Breaking Big Problems into Smaller Ones: How TestRay’s AI Breaks Down Requirements

Managing software requirements can feel like trying to assemble a puzzle without seeing the picture — especially when they’re vague, large, or riddled with dependencies.

That’s why Requirement Breakdown is one of the most powerful AI features now available in TestRay for Jira Data Center (v12.0+), activated through Storm AI.

It takes a parent-level requirement and uses AI to generate detailed, traceable child requirements, giving your team a clearer picture of what needs to be built and how.

Why Requirement Breakdown Matters

High-level requirements are great for planning, but they’re rarely usable as-is. Someone still has to:

• Interpret the intent

• Identify missing details

• Split the work into manageable parts

• Create individual tasks for execution

And when that work is manual? It’s inconsistent, time-consuming, and often delayed. TestRay AI does the first cut for you — automatically and intelligently.

How the AI Requirement Breakdown Works

You can launch Requirement Breakdown from within any requirement issue.

Here’s the step-by-step flow:

Step	What You Do
1. Select Parent Requirement	Choose the high-level requirement to break down (e.g., FRS-2: Credit Card Validation).
2. Add Context (Optional)	Paste in extra notes or constraints — e.g., “Should support Visa, MasterCard, Amex.”
3. Attach Documents (Optional)	Upload specs, user stories, or diagrams (PDFs or .txt files supported).
4. Click "Generate Child Requirements"	TestRay sends the data to your configured AI model via Storm AI.
5. Review Output	The AI returns a list of suggested child requirements. Each includes: summary, priority, and related components.
6. Edit or Create	You can refine each item and create them as new Jira issues — all within the same view.

Key Functionalities of AI Requirement Breakdown

• Smart Decomposition: The AI reads context and documents to intelligently break large tasks into smaller, executable items.

• Priority Tagging: Each output is tagged with priority, so your team knows what to do first.

• Bulk Editing & Creation: Quickly manage multiple tasks at once: edit, delete, or create them in one go.

• In-Context Usability: This feature lives inside your Jira issue view, making it intuitive for teams already using TestRay.

Real-World Example

Let’s say your PM logs a requirement like: “As a user, I should be able to reset my password using OTP sent to my phone or email.”

Sounds simple — but it’s a rabbit hole. Here’s what the AI might generate:

• Build OTP microservice

• Integrate with SMS/email providers

• Add UI field for phone/email input

• Create retry and fallback logic

• Add audit logs for OTP use

• Test OTP expiry and resend logic

Just like that, your planning process accelerates and your sprint tickets become a whole lot clearer.

Powered by Storm AI

To access this feature, make sure:

• You’re using TestRay v12.0 or above

• The Storm AI for Jira app is installed and configured

• You’ve connected a supported AI service (OpenAI, Google Gemini, Azure, and Vertex.)

Storm AI is the secure connector that enables AI features in TestRay without storing or training on your data.

Business Benefits

• Save Time: What used to take two to three meetings and a whiteboard can now be done in minutes.

• Improve Accuracy: Better task decomposition reduces ambiguity and increases traceability.

• Plan at Scale: Ideal for fast-moving teams dealing with large or complex requirements.

Final Thought

Great software starts with great requirements and great requirements start with clarity. With AI-powered Requirement Breakdown, TestRay gives your teams a head start on execution by doing the heavy thinking up front. Want to see it in action? Book a demo or Request access to a trial version.