title: User requirements specifications: a hierarchical structure covering strategical, tactical and operational requirements.
abstract: The present study is a long-term review and follow-up on conclusions and recommendations on the role and contents of a User Requirements Specification Document (URD) from a previous in-depth case study. The follow-up comprises a succession of investigations and two case studies to explore the role and contents of a URD within systems development and assessment, thereby gradually extending and refining the original recommendations. Finally, the recommended three-layered structure and approach for a URD were applied in full scale within a real-life project, in which the URD serves as the basis for a Call for Tender. The preparation was entirely user-driven with the aid of a consultant for four man months. The present paper outlines the essence of the approach and the outcome of applying the recommended structure, with numerous examples of the implications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Informatics and Image Analysis, Aalborg University, and Virtual Centre for Health Informatics, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7d, DK-9220 Aalborg East, Denmark. jytte.brender@v-chi.dk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brender
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McNair
mesh_terms: D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D004282:Documentation; D006801:Humans; D008490:Medical Informatics; D014584:User-Computer Interface