Guide for Collect Requirements – PMBOK Guide Seventh Edition

Why it is important:
The 'Collect Requirements' process is crucial in project management because it helps define and understand the stakeholders’ needs and expectations. Irrespective of the project’s size, collecting requirements is an essential phase because it influences all the subsequent project phases, like designing, building, and testing.

What it is:
In a nutshell, 'Collect Requirements' is a process of understanding and documenting stakeholders' needs to fulfill project objectives. The PMBOK Guide Seventh Edition refers this process as a part of scope planning involving techniques such as interviews, group creative techniques, questionnaires, and surveys to generate requirements.

How it works:
The process starts with a detailed definition of the stakeholders' needs, which are then documented in the Project Requirements Document. These project requirements underpin the Project Scope Statement, Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), and WBS Dictionary, serving as a reference throughout the project lifecycle.

Answering Questions on Collect Requirements:
In exams, questions related to 'Collect Requirements' generally revolve around understanding of the process and its importance. They may include application-based cases where you have to identify the correct steps taken in this process or suggest how to execute it in a given situation. You may also encounter questions related to the tools and techniques used in the process.

Exam Tips:
Answering Questions on Collect Requirements:
Understand the process, its value to project management, and the tools and techniques used. Try to grasp the sequence of steps involved and relate it to real-world project scenarios. A good practice is to solve case-based and situational questions to understand the practical application better.