QueLess: An application for avoiding queues: IEEE Website Requirements Specification Document (2018)

This project will be a software requirements specification (SRS) document for an application named QueLess. The application in question is one that will allow the user to search various shops, bars, gyms and other public places to see how busy they are in order to help them avoid overcrowded places and more efficiently go about their day and plan their schedule for the day. The aim of this project is the gather, analyse and document the requirements necessary for the creation of this mobile application. In order to gather these requirements there will be a large amount of interaction with stakeholders in order to elicit requirements and valuable feedback and information. The elicitation techniques used will be the most prevalent and effective ones used by business analysts around the world, and will predominantly come from the Business Analyst Book of Knowledge (BABOK). Throughout the project BABOK will be consulted on various issues, but in particular, requirements gathering.&#13;\n&#13;\nThe techniques that will be looked at in order to elicit requirements from stakeholders will be Brainstorming, Surveys, Interviews, Focus Groups, Prototyping, and possibly more if the need arises. The brainstorming sessions will be conducted with a few members in groups of around 5 people who will all be allowed to speak freely and give ideas. The survey will target a much wider group, and will be initially aimed towards the student population as they are the main target market for the application. Interviews will take place with around 3 stakeholders of some of the different types businesses that could potentially benefit from the application, such as gym, restaurant, shop.&#13;\n&#13;\nThe need for this app I believe comes from the fact that in general people are becoming busier and busier across all walks of life, be it work, college, family or other commitments that will have them running from A to B trying to get everything done. Because of this time is precious, and any time that can be saved and used for a person’s priorities will be of value to them. Having to wait in ques in shops and other establishments is an unnecessary delay in people’s lives. As well as this there will be places were people will meet up to socialise such as bars, cinemas and eating establishments which can easily become overcrowded and unpleasant environments to be in. If people have agreed to meet at a certain place, or someone just needs to do the shopping in between other duties during the day, there is no real way to check how busy these places are so that people can better plan their day.&#13;\n&#13;\nFor example; Where someone will be rushing to collect kids from school, only to find the supermarket they have gone into is very busy and there is a long que, making the parent late to collect the kids and bring them to other activities they are involved in. This could have been avoided and a more appropriate shop chosen had there been an app available with such information. Also if people agree to meet at a certain place such as a bar in town, not knowing it is very busy and difficult to find seating, move around, and find friends it can be a frustrating experience. Being able to see which establishments are busy and which are not would allow people to better plan their time.&#13;\n&#13;\nI will need to go an elicit requirements for this project to expand on my own initial ideas for the app and to see what potential users of the app would like to see included, and how participating businesses would like to see the app work in relation to them. The ideas I have at present consist of an app that gathers real time information from businesses such as shops, bars, gyms, cinemas, restaurants and any other places where people would tend to go on a regular basis. They will provide information to the app on the number of people in the place, wait times, expected patterns of busyness for the day. The app will give other information such as alternative places to go if too busy, estimated patterns for the day, deals and promotions in places subject to times. Many more requirements will come to the surface in the coming months as interviews and surveys with stakeholders are conducted along with other elicitation techniques.