Expectations levels
Introduction
In Whitebox Expectations we distinguish between three levels of expectations.
– “Why” are we expecting this (needs)
– “What” are we expecting (requirements)
– “How” do we expect the solution to be (Solution Definitions).
It is not rock solid science, but a very useful mental model that helps you to create consensus among the stakeholders about the expectations. Because separating the levels and analysing them simply creates the overview we are looking for.
Focus
Learning objectives
In this module you will learn:
- Why you should invest in this analysis
- How the three levels are different
- When to stop analysing and move on
Rationales
This rationale talks about the importance of a solid scope
This rationale discus what “holistic” means in Expectations Engineering
Content
By the end of this module, you should feel comfortable with the levels of expectations because they reflects how we are anyway acting in our daily lives when we are trying to make others happy. They have needs – you try to support those. In between you discuss how you can best support the needs.
You should also feel distressed, that the level of complexity that suddenly appears requires a lot of effort to manage.
However, intuitively you already know, that ignoring the complexity is a sure way to disaster, so it is better to manage the complexity as much as possible. A little is much better than nothing. The ideal state is control – the three levels will help you.
The chaotic way that expectations are materializing during a project, is the root cause of most of the problems that is experienced. Separating in these three levels is a trick to apply order to the chaos.
Then, during the discussions you will have with other stakeholders about the three levels of expectations, you will inevitably understand each other better.
The better you document the expectations, the better you support all future work of colleagues who was not part of the analysis.
Sources
The strong emphasis on the three levels is what makes Expectation Engineering special. INCOSE are close to the same distinction and has been a great inspiration. Most other methods and practices have a different distinction.
Summary
During the rest of Whitebox Expectations we will refer to the three levels, and in the different discipline lessons, we will discuss the slightly different approaches to the three levels. This way, you will be prepared to manage the inherent complexity of expectations.
Link to the PowerPoint presentation: Expectations levels slides
