Step 1 - Install the necessary Software

In order to compete you will need to have a few tools installed:

• TopCoder UML Tool.
• GNOME Dia, Microsoft Visio, or Omni Graffle
• Microsoft Word or another Rich Text Editor

Step 2 - View Documentation and Samples

Download and get familiar with the documents used in these contests:

Document	Description
Client Questionnaire	The Client will complete this Questionnaire and post it to the forum. You, as the competitor, will need to analyze it and ask the right questions in order to fill out the BRD (below).
Business Requirements Document	This document organizes a description of the Client's current process or need, crucial business process and participants, and proposes a new solution. It is sometimes called the "BRD" or "Conceptualization" document. You must replace the blue text and complete this template for submission.
Distribution Packet	Includes the BRD, plus samples of the diagram types.

You can also read about competing from the member's view, here

Step 3 - Choose an Application to Compete On

On the Active Contests page you will see a list of Conceptualization projects available. Click on a particular project and read the definition. In addition to reading the project definition, you should also read the contest inputs, if it is already posted. The link to the required submission documentation should exist in the project's Distribution forum.

Step 4 - Register for the competition

Now that you have found a competition you would like to work on, you must register for the competition. On the competition definition page, there is a "Register" button. Click this to sign up for the contest.

Please note! Reliability and ratings are now computed for Conceptualization contests! If you decide against submitting, be sure to request the PMs to un-register you from the contest before the Registration period ends. You can read more about reliability here.

Step 5 - Download all Project Documents

Download all materials from the contest's Documents forum, and also from the contest's wiki (you can usually find everything you need on the Attachments tab of the contest wiki). For Conceptualization contests, you will need to download the Questionnaire completed by the Client, and the Conceptualization templates zip archive. This archive provides examples of each diagram type.

Some contests will include miscellaneous artifacts like screen shots of existing applications, drawings of the client's vision for the new application, etc. When provided, you are required to download and review these artifacts to understand the client's needs.

Step 6 - Ask Questions in the Forum

In Conceptualization contests, you will need to review the Questionnaire that the client filled out, and figure out where you need more detail. The only way to get that detail is to ask the Client careful questions in the forum - and to read responses the Client might have already left. This is the only way that a contestant will gather enough detail to complete the BRD.

When supporting artifacts are provided by the client, it is crucial to ask questions in the forum to clarify them and any assumptions.

Step 7 - Complete the Requirements

To learn how to complete the requirements for Conceptualization contests, click here.

Step 8 - Submit

Log into Project Submit and Review and Review and submit your submission.

Step 9 - Rules

1. Moderated Contest - Conceptualization Contests employ a member Moderator. The Moderator reviews the Questionnaire, posts an initial round of questions, and follows up on those questions according to his or her discretion. The Moderator is also the Primary Screener and Reviewer. Be sure to read all forum posts by the Moderator before posting a new thread of your own. Every competitor is solely responsible for asking the questions they need to clarify requirements. No appeals based on questions the Moderator fails to ask or clarify will be permitted.
2. Stakeholder Participants - There will be an announcement posted to the forums that lists the handles of the contest stakeholders. Forum posts by these members are the only authorized responses to requirements questions.
3. Milestone Competition - Competitions include an optional Milestone submission at the half-way point. The Milestone allows the client/project stakeholder review all submissions and provide general feedback to all registrants. Submissions will remain private - the feedback will be generalized and will not copy text from any submission directly, instead, the client/project stakeholder will identify areas that are in or out of scope or require more detail. The Final Submission will have all submissions reviewed against the Conceptualization Scorecard.
4. Submission Privacy - Submissions will NOT be publically viewable until the contest is completely over.
5. Final Fixes - If a client determines that a set of requirements from one submission needs to be in the final deliverable, then during the Final Fixes, the client may for ask these items to be merged in with final fixes.
   

Step 10 - Support

If you win the contest, you will be required to provide forum support in one down-stream contest for this project. Typically, this will be a Specification contest. It may also be a Wireframes contest. You will need to answer questions about your design, and address ideas raised by competitors. The project PM or Copilot will contact you with details when Final Fixes are complete.