Question

What is the purpose of the requirements definition?

Answer 1

While designing a system, we need appropriate specifications. Our technical basis must be strong by knowing what we are developing and for what purpose it is intended to. So for that requirement definition is necessary. It involves describing that for the development of efficient and reliable system what is needed and what will be procured. It specifies all the needs around which the final system will be developed. While creating the solicitation document all these factors are taken into consideration. It is needed to know terms of reference for services, exact or approximate specifications for equipment and goods, and statement of works. It is extremely important to have clear and exact definition and description what is needed and what to deliver.

The requirement definitions also helps a open up a competition. It should define exact need both technical, qualitative as well as quantitative.

We can see that requirement definition is of utmost importance as :

1) It helps us to define the exact need for completion and delivery of high quality system or solution.

2) It helps us to know that exact specifications whether these be technically , qualitatively or quantitatively. For example while designing a software solution of a newly opened restaurant, our requirement definition us tell us how much number of computers we will need, what be the cost of software which incorporates the current need and customer base. It tells us whether our system will be scaled up or down on the basis of our need and will the costs for that vary too much or too low. In short it opens up all the specifications in all the areas , be technical or other.

3) It helps us to avoid over-specifications of our system so that we could cut the costs appropriately without having impact on quality of the system. It keeps a delicate and proper balance between over-specifications where we may incur more costs and under specifications where our needs are not met.

4) It helps us to find the exact timing of the product delivery and avoids progress delays when product is delivered after deadline and save losses when product is delivered well before deadline but may be used after some time.

5) It helps us to describe and define and closely predict the handling and storage charges in case of of progress delays or when delivered earlier than required.

That is the need of requirement definition.