What kind of work is the upstream process? Detailed explanation of required skills and suitability/unsuitability

requirements analysis

Requirements analysis is the start of the upstream process and is also called requirements definition or system planning. Our main duties include identifying requirements from customers and investigating and analyzing systemization needs.

Skills are required to properly understand customer requirements. At times, you may need to ask questions to discover issues that users are not aware of. For this reason, in many cases experienced system engineers, project managers, and IT consultants are in charge.

Requirement definition

Not all requirements may be included in the system. Requirements definition is the process of determining the specifications of the system to be implemented in the project. The requirements to be defined are divided into “functional requirements” related to functionality, and “non-functional requirements” that define requirements for speed, security, etc. from aspects other than functionality.

Requirements definition is the process of determining the goals of a project, and since there are usually constraints such as delivery dates and budgets, the requests of the client and developer often conflict. Defining requirements as clearly as possible is the key to preventing problems later on. It is also important to create a requirements definition document and reach an agreement with the customer.

basic design

The basic design is the system’s design based on the requirements definition. Because it determines the behavior of the system as seen by the user, it is also called external design or functional design. This is an important process that is directly linked to user satisfaction, as it determines the appearance, usability, and coordination between systems.

Typical items determined in the basic design include the following:

・System operating procedures

・Screen types and layouts, transitions between screens

・Types and layouts of forms

・Input/output of various data (forms, files, databases, etc.)

・How to link with external systems

・Network configuration and hardware placement

・Selection of OS and various software

As with the requirements definition process, the decisions should be clearly stated in the document and agreed upon.

Detailed design

Detailed design is the process of creating the designs necessary for system implementation based on the basic design. It is also called internal design because it mainly deals with the internal parts of the system that are not visible to the user.

During detailed design, the following details are determined and documented as necessary.

・Classes and modules

・Communication procedures and internal processing flow

·state transition

Some companies treat detailed design as a downstream process.

Six skills necessary for upstream process work

Upstream processes require a variety of skills, including IT technology. Here, we will highlight six representative skills. Let’s take a look at why it’s important.

A wide range of IT skills

Upstream process operations require a wide range of IT skills. To understand the entire system and make appropriate decisions, you will need the following knowledge.

1. Network

2. Server virtualization and cloud utilization

3. Middleware such as databases

4. Security

This knowledge is also important for system speed, security, and data consistency. Be sure to check the latest information regularly to keep up with technological advances.

Knowledge of business and laws related to business

There may be cases where knowledge of the business is required to develop a business system. It is necessary to have a correct understanding of the business flow to be systemized and what kind of problems you want to solve with systemization.

Furthermore, many operations are subject to restrictions, to varying degrees, by industry rules and laws. When accepting orders for a project, it is essential to have knowledge of the relevant laws and regulations in addition to business knowledge of the relevant industry. Be sure to check the official websites of central government ministries, local governments, and industry organizations, and familiarize yourself with them before starting work.

Systems that violate industry rules and regulations cannot be used in the field. Not only will you be forced to make major reworks, but you may also receive harsh criticism from your customers.

logical thinking ability

Upstream process tasks also require logical thinking skills. To receive an order for a system, we must make a proposal that the customer can accept. You need to analyze the challenges presented and think logically about how to make the customer’s wishes come true. Then, it is necessary to explain it in a way that is easy to understand and makes sense so that the customer can understand.

On the other hand, there may be requests that seem logically achievable but are difficult to realize due to various constraints such as cost and schedule. Logical thinking skills will help explain the situation in such cases.

Skills to properly design and create documentation

Documents are important materials in the upstream process. Documents play the following roles in the progress of a project:

・Becomes the basis for the next process

– Serves as material for customers to understand the new system

For example, design is done based on the requirements definition document, and implementation and construction are done based on the design document. Those in charge of upstream processes must not only appropriately define requirements and design, but also have the skills to appropriately and verbalize agreed content. Create a document that everyone can understand the same way.

communication ability

Engineers in charge of upstream processes are also required to have communication skills that allow them to skillfully extract necessary information from customers. Customers offer a variety of requests, but they don’t always tell you everything. There are two reasons for this:

・There are latent demands that the customers themselves are not aware of.

・People who are not familiar with IT and do not understand the conditions necessary for system operation

Engineers must conduct interviews with customers and extract sufficient information necessary for system development and construction. If you proactively check for potential problems, you can prevent problems from occurring. This can be expected to have the effect of reducing rework and increasing the possibility that customers will be satisfied with the proposal.

Ability to appropriately estimate business volume

To complete a project, the ability to appropriately estimate the volume of work in the upstream process is essential. This is because the budget and delivery date are set at the stage of receiving an order, and it is difficult to change them later.

For example, if human resources are insufficient for the amount and period of development required, the following disadvantages will occur.

・Schedule delay

・Deterioration in quality

・Fatigue of personnel due to frequent troubles and continuous overtime/work on holidays

No one will feel good if they try too hard to meet the customer’s wishes but cannot do so. Of course, not everything will proceed as planned, but appropriate estimates in the upstream process are important to prevent the so-called “death march.”

Advantages and disadvantages of having engineers in charge of upstream processes

As with any other job, there are advantages and disadvantages to having engineers in charge of upstream processes. Let’s take a closer look at the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of being in charge of upstream processes

Engineers in charge of upstream processes can enjoy the following benefits:

・Annual income increases

・Easy to be assigned responsible work and easy to get promoted

・You can change jobs under favorable conditions

There may be many engineers who aim for upstream processes to obtain some of the benefits listed above. Upstream processes are more management-oriented than downstream processes, so there are often opportunities to hone management skills. It can be said to be a shortcut to career advancement.

Disadvantages of being in charge of upstream processes

Some engineers in charge of upstream processes may find the following disadvantages.

・I can’t concentrate on coding

– Busy with internal and external coordination

・Being busy with document creation

For example, the basic design phase requires creating numerous documents and obtaining customer agreements. People who want to make use of their programming skills or people who are not good at communication may not find the upstream process work rewarding.

Upstream processes have pros and cons.

As explained above, there are some unique items in the upstream process among the tasks that engineers are responsible for. Therefore, it is not a job suitable for every engineer. From here, I will explain the pros and cons of upstream processes.

Engineers for upstream processes

The following people are considered to be compatible with upstream processes.

・I want to solve corporate issues with my own hands

・I want to be involved in the entire project and deliver the best results.

・Be interested in technical fields that are not your specialty and actively learn about them

– Strong against pressure

・Able to create concise, clear, and easy-to-understand documents

・I like conversation

The above items reflect the characteristics of the upstream process, which involves many meetings and document creation, and requires a wide range of technical skills.

Engineers unsuited to upstream processes

Engineers who fit many of the items listed below are considered not well-suited to upstream processes.

・I’m not good at socializing with people

・I want to program silently

・I want to compete with specific technical skills

– Difficulty explaining clearly to non-technical people

-Not interested in management work

A typical example is someone who has always wanted to do programming. If such people are forced to take charge of upstream processes, they may lose motivation.

Understand the work content of upstream processes and acquire the necessary skills

Upstream process operations are significantly different from downstream processes. Decisions made in upstream processes are important in system development because they affect downstream processes. To deliver systems that meet customer needs, those who want to be involved in upstream processes should thoroughly understand the work and acquire the required skills.