Systems, Architecture and Systems Architecture

When discussing functional requirements from a Cloud Solutions Architecture perspective, it’s essential to understand how the foundational principles of defining clear and actionable requirements align with the unique needs and challenges of cloud computing. Wiegers & Beatty (2013) reference Alexander & Stevens (2002), who suggest:

When writing functional requirements from the user’s perspective, the following general structure works well:

The

[user class or actor name]

shall be able to

[do something]

[to some object]

[qualifying conditions, response time, or quality statement]. (p. 208)

Identifying the User Class or Actor: Who will interact with the system?

Describing the Action: What specific operation should the user be able to perform?

Specifying the Object: What is the action being performed on?

Detailing Conditions: Are there any special conditions such as response times or quality standards?

Practical Use Case

To illustrate, let’s look at Peugeot’s innovative approach with their 9X8 hypercar. Utilizing AI technology, they enhance vehicle performance in critical scenarios like the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This real-world application mirrors the structure by clearly defining user roles (engineers and tech teams), actions (monitoring and adjusting vehicle dynamics), objects (vehicle systems), and stringent conditions (race performance metrics).