Putting together your RFP technical requirements from an RFI

The technical requirements for an expensive technology system are the specifications and criteria that define the functionality, performance, quality, and design of the system. Creating the technical requirements from a request for information (RFI) can be a risky process, as the RFI may not provide enough detail, clarity, or accuracy to capture the true needs and expectations of the stakeholders. Some of the risks of creating the technical requirements from an RFI are:

• The RFI may be vague, incomplete, or outdated, leading to inaccurate or unrealistic requirements that do not reflect the current or future state of the system.
• The RFI may contain conflicting or contradictory information, resulting in inconsistent or incompatible requirements that create confusion and ambiguity for the developers and users.
• The RFI may not cover all the aspects of the system, such as security, usability, scalability, reliability, maintainability, interoperability, etc., leaving out important requirements that are essential for the system’s success.
• The RFI may not align with the strategic goals and objectives of the organization, causing misalignment or mismatch between the requirements and the business value of the system.
• The RFI may not involve enough input or feedback from the end-users, customers, or other stakeholders, leading to requirements that do not meet their needs, preferences, or expectations.
  To mitigate these risks, it is important to conduct a thorough analysis of the RFI, validate and verify the information provided, identify and resolve any gaps or inconsistencies, and involve all the relevant stakeholders in the requirements elicitation and validation process. Additionally, it is advisable to use other sources of information, such as existing documentation, market research, benchmarking, prototyping, etc., to complement and refine the requirements derived from the RFI.