Compuware Optimal Trace Enables Business and IT Organisations to Collaborate More Effectively

SA customers now to have local support

Compuware has moved aggressively to integrate SteelTrace, acquired in April 2006 and developers of the business requirements management solution of the same name, into its organisation. In less than 90 days, the corporation has delivered a new release of the product, re-naming it to Optimal Trace. By enabling requirements traceability throughout the application delivery process, Optimal Trace increases the ability of application projects to realise business objectives.

The good news for South African Optimal Trace customers is that they will now have access to local technical support and expertise, instead of having to communicate with Optimal Trace in Ireland.

Compuware Optimal Trace introduces an innovative approach to requirements capture called 'structured requirements'. These are user-centric stories that describe software requirements from the perspective of the user, complete with visual storyboards and relationships between requirements.

"The solution's structured approach to requirements capture ensures that IT organisations capture the right requirements," says Cronje. "It dramatically improves the ability of IT to deliver applications that meet the needs of the business."

"A structured approach to considering requirements can more fully describe the requirements in context," said Matt Light, Research Director for Gartner, Inc. "The lack of a thorough description of requirements can yield disconnects and defects that are invisible to developers until future iterations, which may require extensive rework."

Version 4.1 of Optimal Trace includes advances that enable easier deployment in modern, global organisations with distributed workforces, including enhanced connectivity, better administrative and security capabilities and a flexible licensing model.

Learn more about Compuware's business requirements management solution, Optimal Trace 4.1, at http://www.compuware.com/products/optimaltrace/.