Here are some of the ways you can use the "Baselines" functionality in Accompa...

1. Requirements Documentation for a Project

When you're working on a project, you can use the "Baselines" functionality as follows:

• Create a baseline folder with the project name.
• Once you've identified the initial set of items (requirements, features and use cases) for the project - generate the initial baseline.
• Share the baseline with other users and get their feedback.
• Based on their feedback, generate a new baseline by adding or editing items in the current baseline.
• Share the new baseline with other users and get their feedback.
• Once everyone agrees, use this baseline as the basis for your project.
  • You can create detailed requirements documents from this baseline.
  • You can compare this baseline at any time to previous baselines - to see the progression of requirements for this project.
  • You can also compare this baseline to current versions of items in the baseline to see if any items have changed.

2. Freeze Requirements

You can use baselines in order to freeze your requirements for a specific project:

• Your project team will work off of the baseline, rather than current versions of items (requirements, features and use cases).
• When a baseline is generated, it captures the then current versions of all items in the baseline.
  • After this, even if someone modifies an item - the item in the baseline will be unaffected.
• Thus, baselines provide a powerful way to freeze requirements for your projects.

3. Change Management

You can use baselines to manage requirements changes for a specific project or set of projects:

• Once the initial set of items (requirements, features and use cases) for the project have been identified and agreed upon - generate a baseline.
  • When a baseline is generated, it captures the then current versions of all items in the baseline.
• Your project team will work off of this baseline, rather than current versions of items (requirements, features and use cases).
• As the project progresses, there may be a need to make changes to existing items or even add or delete items.
• Once the revised set of items have been identified and agreed upon - generate another baseline.
  • You can easily compare the two baselines to see what changed before everyone signs off.
• Your project team will now work off of this new baseline.

4. Stage-Gate Process

Does your team follow stage-gate or phase-gate process for your projects? If so, baselines can help you:

• Generate a baseline as the project enters each gate.
• You can easily compare baselines at each gate to those at other gates at any time - to meet auditing and compliance needs.