This course teaches INCOSE-aligned requirements writing — a step-by-step system for crafting clear, precise, text-based statements that drive project success.

Requirements Writing

354 reviews
What you'll learn
Apply INCOSE guidelines for writing clear requirement statements.
Identify and correct ambiguity in requirement statements.
Develop precise, text-based requirements for various projects.
Enhance project communication and outcomes through effective requirements.
Skills you'll gain
- Business Writing
- System Requirements
- Product Requirements
- Engineering Documentation
- Technical Writing
- Editing
- Verification And Validation
- Systems Engineering
- Project Documentation
- Functional Specification
- Requirements Management
- Business Requirements
- Requirements Analysis
- Skills section collapsed. Showing 9 of 13 skills.
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There are 4 modules in this course
Welcome to the Requirements Writing course. Over five weeks, you will learn rules for writing clear requirements. Each week, complete a module and practice with quizzes drawn from a large question set. This helps you prepare for the course exam in Week 5. This module introduces the course structure and how to get started. You will understand the course flow and assessment methods. To succeed, plan your weekly study time.
What's included
2 videos4 readings1 assignment
Building on our previous module, this week focuses on removing ambiguity from requirement statements. You will learn key rules for writing requirements, specifically addressing vague and superfluous words. By the end, you will identify and correct common wording issues. To succeed, pay close attention to word choice examples.
What's included
1 video1 assignment
Continuing from our last module, we address more rules for developing clear requirement statements. This module focuses on avoiding conjunctions without formal logical conditions, unbounded statements, and escape clauses. You will learn to identify and correct these issues. To succeed, practice applying these rules to various requirement examples.
What's included
1 video1 assignment
This module concludes our rules for writing requirements. You will focus on precision, using units, ranges, and tolerances correctly. Also, learn to avoid common pitfalls like cross-references, pronouns, and negative requirements. By the end, you will apply these final rules to create robust requirements. For success, review all rules and practice applying them.
What's included
3 videos2 assignments
Instructors

Explore more from Electrical Engineering
Status: Free TrialUniversity of Colorado System
Status: Free TrialUniversity of Colorado System
Status: Free Trial
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Showing 3 of 354
Reviewed on Feb 27, 2021
very exhaustive for such a short paced course but so nicely knit, gives you much information about Req. writing you'd been missing
Reviewed on Jun 23, 2020
Make sure you take notes, a lot of this material is so handy to refer to and explained a lot easier than in the INCOSE Guide
Reviewed on Jul 27, 2021
Admirably rigorous and thorough, this course is an excellent resource for advancing or refreshing skills and mindset when it comes to capturing & defining requirements.

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Frequently asked questions
Requirements writing is the art and science of crafting clear, precise, verifiable statements that define exactly what a system, product, or project must deliver. It's the foundation that turns stakeholder visions into actionable engineering reality.
Vague requirements kill projects — they breed misunderstandings, trigger costly rework, and leave teams building the wrong thing. Crystal-clear specs align everyone, minimize risks, and ensure the final product actually solves real problems.
You'll master INCOSE-aligned technical writing, learn to surgically spot and eliminate ambiguity (even in complex, multi-layered cases), and practice rewriting messy specs into precise, testable statements — plus defend them in stakeholder role plays.
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