BA Techniques — The Straw Man Approach

A straw man is a term used in product or service development to refer to a preliminary or incomplete version of a proposed solution. It’s typically used as a starting point for discussion and iteration, and is not intended to be a final or fully developed solution.

The term “straw man” comes from the idea of creating a rough outline or skeleton of an idea, similar to the way a scarecrow is made from straw. In product or service development, a straw man is often used to quickly test an idea or concept and gather feedback from stakeholders. It can help to identify potential issues or areas for improvement before significant resources are invested in further development.

Straw man proposals are often used in the early stages of development, when the focus is on generating and evaluating ideas. They can be useful for quickly sketching out a proposed solution and identifying any potential problems or challenges that need to be addressed. However, they should not be confused with a fully developed solution, as they are typically incomplete and may not include all the necessary details or considerations.

How to Use the Straw Man Technique for Requirements Elicitation

I normally use a 5 step process when employing this technique for elicitaiton. Below are the…