2. "What's it for? analyzing functions

This key stage of functional analysis is also a major one in a MV project. It aims to define the desired result not in technical terms describing the solution, but in terms of the requirements to be met, whatever the solution. This will free up as many degrees of freedom as possible in the search for alternative solutions.

In a MV project, the solution to be improved will often be a process (i.e. a set of correlated or interactive activities which transforms input elements into output elements), a project or an organization whose role is to manage one or more processes. Its functions will then be of the "transform what goes in into what comes out" type.

The procedure for expressing, formalizing, organizing and characterizing functions is described in the sheet on value analysis ( cf . Functional analysis: describing a need to define a solution...