- Published
- 8 October 2026
- Last reviewed
- 8 October 2026
Goal and audience
Turn a fictional business request into a reviewed set of requirements and a change-impact note.
This self-directed practice path is for learners who want an organised way to use existing Digest resources. It is not an enrolled course, a qualification or a certificate programme.
Before you start
A simple fictional service request and a document editor. No access to customer or employee data is needed.
As an RDE planning estimate, allow around 30 to 60 minutes for each step, or roughly 2.5 to 5 hours in total. Your pace and prior experience will affect the time needed. Pause and repeat a step when its review question remains unanswered.
How to use the path
Follow the steps in order. Each resource opens in a new tab; keep this path open and return here for the activity and review question. Previous and next links move between steps on this page. Record your own notes and outputs privately. This page does not track, save or certify completion; account-based progress tracking is deferred.
Step 1 of 5: Frame the problem
Open resource: Define the Problem Before Choosing the Solution Opens in a new tab.
Practice
Use a fictional request such as a new attendance dashboard. Describe the current situation, the affected people and the decision or task that needs support before naming a solution.
Produce
A problem statement and three uncertainties.
Review before moving on
Have you described a problem that can be investigated without assuming a dashboard is the answer?
Step 2 of 5: Investigate user needs
Open resource: A Practical Guide to Discovering User Needs Opens in a new tab.
Practice
Follow the guide with a fictional administrator. Record the request, the underlying task and what evidence would help you understand the need. Label invented observations as fictional.
Produce
A needs note with observations, assumptions and open questions.
Review before moving on
Can you distinguish what the user needs to achieve from the feature they requested?
Step 3 of 5: Prepare a stakeholder conversation
Open resource: Plan a Useful Stakeholder Conversation: A Practical Workbook Opens in a new tab.
Practice
Use the workbook to plan questions for one affected role and one decision maker. Choose questions that explore current work and constraints without pushing your preferred solution.
Produce
A conversation plan and an evidence-recording approach.
Review before moving on
Which question could challenge your initial understanding rather than merely confirm it?
Step 4 of 5: Review a small requirement set
Open resource: Requirements Quality Review Checklist Opens in a new tab.
Practice
Draft three requirements for the fictional case. Use the checklist to identify ambiguity, missing context and a practical way to check each requirement. Keep a record of amendments.
Produce
Three reviewed requirements and a review log.
Review before moving on
Could a reviewer tell what would satisfy each requirement and what still needs a decision?
Step 5 of 5: Assess the likely change impact
Open resource: Change Impact Assessment: A Practical Planning Template Opens in a new tab.
Practice
Use the template to identify affected roles, process steps, information and support needs. Mark unconfirmed impacts and assign a question or review action for each.
Produce
A change-impact note with owners to consult.
Review before moving on
Have you identified who needs to confirm the impact instead of presenting guesses as agreed facts?
Review your practice pack
Bring the five outputs together. For each, record the date, what you produced, the evidence you checked and the next amendment. Ask a trusted reviewer for specific feedback where possible. Completing the sequence means you have attempted these practice activities; it does not establish job readiness, professional competence or accreditation.
- A problem statement and three uncertainties. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
- A needs note with observations, assumptions and open questions. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
- A conversation plan and an evidence-recording approach. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
- Three reviewed requirements and a review log. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
- A change-impact note with owners to consult. Record: attempted, reviewed or needs further work.
Select one improvement and set a realistic review date. Return to the relevant step when your evidence or understanding changes.