Valid and Invalid Status Transitions

When a customer ReqIF is added to a timeline, each value for the Customer Status attribute is checked for compliance with the workflow rules defined in the Exchange Process. For any new Exchange Process Requirement, the Customer Status must be assigned a value from a set of valid initial values. From then on, the Customer Status value can only change in accordance with the Supplier Status transition rules. The Supplier Status will change after the supplier performs evaluation of the requirement.

Similarly, when a supplier ReqIF is added to a timeline, each value for the Supplier Status attribute is also checked for compliance with the workflow rules defined in the Exchange Process. The supplier can only set this value to one that is a valid response to the last Customer Status value in accordance with the Customer Status transition rules.

 

Consider the following example:

  1. Initial ReqIF - In the first customer ReqIF, the requirement 'A1' has the Customer Status set to 'ToEvaluate'.
  2. Exchange proceeds - There follows a number of ReqIF exchanges between the customer and supplier during which time there is no change to the Supplier Status attribute value. REQIFtoolkit will take this to mean that the supplier has not yet evaluated 'A1'.
  3. Supplier Responds -  The supplier sets the Supplier Status to 'Agreed' which is a valid transition change in response to 'ToEvaluate'. REQIFtoolkit detects and validates the response.
  4. Exchange Proceeds - There follows a further number of exchanges during which time the customer does not change the Customer Status attribute value for 'A1'. REQIFtoolkit will take this to mean that the Customer has not yet responded to the supplier's response.
  5. Customer Responds - The customer sets the Customer Status to 'Accepted' and this is a valid transition change in response to 'Agreed'.

 

As defined in the workflow rules for the Exchange Process, 'Accepted' is a final state. REQIFtoolkit will not expect any further changes to the Supplier Status for 'A1'.

 

At each moment a ReqIF is added to a timeline, all transitions are checked for compliance with the rules of the Exchange Process. Any deviation is reported with an explanation and unexpected values are highlighted in the historical table view.