REalTalk: Why We Deliberately Speak Plainly in Requirements Engineering

REalTalk

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With REalTalk, we aim to deliberately address topics that are relevant to many projects but are often discussed only superficially. This goes beyond the traditional topics of requirements engineering itself to include the misconceptions, common assumptions, biases, and trends surrounding it. After all, many problems arise not solely from a lack of methods or tools, but from false assumptions, unrealistic expectations, or oversimplified statements that have become entrenched over the years.

In this series, we therefore speak openly about questions such as:

• Why many companies practice requirements engineering without even calling it that
• Why “we do it agile” is often no substitute for structure
• Why many “hyped” tools are not true RM solutions
• Why some popular definitions and distinctions are of little practical help
• Why some trends are more hype than real improvement
• Why companies often accept inefficient processes as “normal”
• Why executives must not simply give in when it comes to important changes
• Why requirements management tools are often implemented incorrectly

We are deliberately not trying to provoke artificially or to dismiss other opinions outright. However, in our work on client projects over many years, we have observed that while some statements sound good in theory, they regularly fail in practice—or at the very least, are far more complex than they are often portrayed.

This tends to give rise to highly simplified narratives, especially online. For example, the idea that modern development automatically requires less structure. Or that complex product development can be easily organized using standard software. Or that good tools automatically solve bad processes. We also regularly encounter statements like “We don’t need requirements management” or “Our developers just handle that on their own.”

The reality in many companies, however, looks quite different.

After all, requirements exist regardless of whether they are managed professionally or not. They emerge in meetings, emails, tickets, Excel files, specifications, meeting notes, or spontaneous decisions. The real question, therefore, is not whether requirements engineering is being practiced, but how well and how systematically it is being done.

These are precisely the kinds of topics we aim to make tangible with REalTalk. Not as a dry theoretical discussion, but based on practical experience from real projects and product developments. In doing so, we deliberately address uncomfortable truths, common misconceptions, and structural issues that many teams are familiar with but rarely discuss openly.

Of course, our experience working with reqSuite® rm also informs these discussions. Nevertheless, REalTalk is deliberately not a traditional product marketing channel. The focus is not on individual features, but on the challenges behind successful development projects. Because even the best software cannot solve problems if fundamental structures, responsibilities, or working methods are missing.

It is also important to us to demonstrate that requirements engineering is much more than just documentation. Well-defined requirements provide clarity, aid in decision-making, reduce misunderstandings, and lay the groundwork for implementing changes in a controlled manner. That is precisely why many of the topics covered in this series are relevant not only to requirements engineers, but also to developers, project managers, product managers, quality managers, and executives.

Starting in June 2026, a new episode of REalTalk will be released every week on PeakAvenue’s YouTube channel. Topics will range from methodological fundamentals to controversial industry discussions and typical problems from real-world projects. Some episodes will be more technical and methodological, while others will be deliberately provocative or opinionated. Always with the goal of stimulating discussion and taking an honest look at the reality of many development projects.

If you’re interested in modern requirements engineering, product development, or the challenges of complex projects, REalTalk is a series you won't want to miss.

You can find current and upcoming episodes on PeakAvenue’s YouTube channel, as well as regularly on our LinkedIn channels and our website.