Getting head around the requirements

Today's primary task is to pull together a broad requirements list - eg everything we need/want in our cafes in terms of fitout and major equipment. This is so we can start doing some rough drawings visualising the concept.

We're dealing with a sequence of activities that all interlock together, and which have to occur in the right order:

- In order to operate a cafe we need a Food Permit. In order to obtain a Food Permit we need to apply to the local council. For example, the City of Melbourne. Here's the pages on the City's site about Food Safety.

- In order to apply for a permit we need to have scale drawings detailing where everything will go and what it will look like.

- But first we need to convince the bank to lend us some money. We're part financing ourselves, and borrowing the rest. To win the bank over we need 'pretty' concept drawings, so their credit department can get all excited and agree to give us a big pile of dosh - preferably unsecured. Oh, and of course, capital budgets and cash flows.

- In order to do the visualisations, we need to determine which premises we want. And to do that, we need to assess that the premises will be appropriate. And to do that we need to work out in detail our..... requirements! And cost them with at least ballpark figures.

- In order to assess the appropriateness of the premises, we need to work out in detail that we comply with the requirements of the Council and the Food legislation. And only reliable way to do that is to submit preliminary plans to the Council and have them assessed.

- In order to get plans drawn we need concepts and vision. So we've got a friendly brother-in-law 'J' who's going to throw some creative juice around; then we can pass to our architect 'S' who can turn them into something the Council inspectors can interpret. But to do the concepts we need .... requirements.

Hence today's quest being trying to compile a list of requirements, which will evolve over time into a more formal specification document.