{"id":63678,"date":"2022-07-21T03:00:54","date_gmt":"2022-07-21T10:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jamasoftware.com\/?p=63678"},"modified":"2024-07-26T15:46:36","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T22:46:36","slug":"considering-doors-for-requirements-management-there-is-a-more-modern-solution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jamasoftware.com\/legacy\/blog\/considering-doors-for-requirements-management-there-is-a-more-modern-solution\/","title":{"rendered":"Considering DOORS\u00ae for requirements management? There is a more modern solution."},"content":{"rendered":"

\"DOORS<\/p>\n

Considering DOORS\u00ae for requirements management? There is a more modern solution.<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re considering IBM\u00ae<\/sup> DOORS\u00ae<\/sup> for requirements management, it might be because it\u2019s considered a \u201csafe\u201d move, you\u2019ve used it in the past, or because you\u2019re unaware that there\u2019s a significantly more modern and easier to use alternative to DOORS requirements management.<\/p>\n

IBM DOORS was an amazing tool \u2013 when it was originally published in 1991, over 30 years ago. DOORS for requirements management has many capabilities for working in regulated industries, but the limitations far outweigh the benefits. It does not deal well with increasing complexity or the need for collaboration and seamless integration in existing tool ecosystems. Let\u2019s have a look at some of the limitations of DOORS:<\/p>\n

Traceability:<\/strong> DOORS has powerful traceability capabilities, but they are hidden behind a cumbersome interface. This leads to outdated traces. Users find traceability maintenance to be difficult with DOORS, and sometimes traces are created \u201cafter the fact\u201d for compliance audits and nothing else. This is a missed opportunity. Having a more modern tool, like Jama Connect\u00ae<\/sup> with an easy-to-use traceability matrix creates transparency and confidence when reacting to change. Traceability also enables agility.<\/p>\n

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Related: <\/strong> What is Requirements Traceability and Why Does it Matter for Product Teams<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n
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Change Management:<\/strong> The traceability of DOORS does support change management, e.g., via suspect links in principle. Unfortunately, this information is hidden and hard to utilize. Compare that to the actionable traceability of Jama Connect, which proactively points out issues in the traceability matrix and suggests how to fix them, instead of doing this reactively, after-the-fact.<\/p>\n

Compliance Reporting:<\/strong> DOORS requirements management allows you to report on virtually everything \u2013 but almost everything requires custom scripting with its proprietary scripting language, DXL. Unless you have a responsive (often costly) programmer on your team, you will have a hard time getting the information you need, when you need it.<\/p>\n

Best Practices:<\/strong> Every \u201cmodule\u201d (document) in DOORS has its own fields, and without an in-house expert, users sometimes find themselves with little guidance on how to use the tool. This results in inconsistencies, which in turn results in confusion and lack of transparency. Consider two \u201csystem specifications\u201d with inconsistent data values for \u201cpriority.\u201d Likewise, standardized workflows guide users through their daily work. In DOORS, you need a programmer to provide this functionality.<\/p>\n

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Related: <\/strong> Requirements Traceability, Does My Data Matter?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n
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Market Drivers Are Pushing Engineering Teams and Technology to Evolve Past IBM DOORS\u2019 Capabilities<\/h2>\n

Today\u2019s products and software have become more complex. This complexity, combined with rapidly evolving customer and market demands, is forcing engineering teams to change the way they work. Now, far more stakeholders need to get involved in the requirements, driving the need for requirements tools to be more collaborative and have functionality that is applicable to diverse users.<\/p>\n

Organizations that successfully transform to support this new way of working understand that effective and optimized product and system development requires highly collaborative solutions and methodologies.<\/p>\n

To reduce risk in product development while still accelerating system design and delivery, teams need access to real-time data and alignment across disparate teams as well as across engineering, business, and product management lifecycles.<\/p>\n

Leading-edge companies who are successfully supporting transformation of their engineering teams:<\/p>\n