Why is the project`s technical specification important?

Creating a website or web application is a complex process. Each project’s life cycle consists of multiple phases. The key to their efficient implementation is to act accordingly with a prepared schedule and budget. To perform this necessary to create — at the beginning — functional and technical specifications. How can the specification translate into the overall success of the project? What should it describe?

Why is the project`s technical specification important?

1. As an exhibit to the agreement, is a legal obligation of customer’s and contractor’s duties
2. It allows you to more accurately calculate the cost and duration of the project
3. It allows for a more efficient execution of the project
4. It reduces the number of conflicts during the development
5. The final project will be more in line with the client’s expectations

5 reasons why you should have the specification

1. Smarter work planning

One of the main tasks of functional documentation is the possibility to better plan the project’s activities. Clearly defined, written over time with their scope can greatly improve the work of the programming team. Having a specification document means the information is available to everyone, eliminating guesswork or constant repetition of that information between team members. From the client’s perspective, it also allows to enforcement formal and legal issues.

2. a Better understanding of the needs and expectations

The technical documentation provides an in-depth knowledge of the needs and expectations of both you and the programmers you are about to entrust with website or web application implementation. Writing documentation is the best way to verify your expectations regarding the product. By presenting your own product’s vision to them, you enable them to understand your requirements better. During this process, you can also count on valuable suggestions that can improve product users’ comfort.

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3. The most accurate product evaluation

The technical specification is the basis for the evaluation of the project. With its help, it is possible to better plan the budget for the product to be created. In this way, the risk associated with the lack of funds for further implementing the project is reduced. The possibility of cooperation with professionals and the high quality of services provided by them is also important.

4. Stress-free project management

Designing a website or web application based on the specification doesn’t only mean acting by the requirements, plan, and budget, but also with a cool head. A chaotic approach to the project, frequent changes of assumptions, or lack of the final product’s vision is not only a waste of time and money but, above all, the energy — of both the client and the team. Thanks to that, proper specification enable the team to work more efficiently and professionally.

5. Satisfaction with the final effect

The impact of good specification on the satisfaction with the final product is also significant. A website or web application created by the assumptions is every customer’s dream, especially when it goes hand in hand with the user’s satisfaction. This is why it is so important to prepare the specification at the very start of the project.

What is the specification?

The initial stage of project management should focus on collecting all necessary information on the future website or web application. The functional and technical spec is used to form requirements that act as guidance for programmers.

The functional and technical specification is a document that consists of a set of requirements related to the project’s implementation. It contains information on programming frameworks, planned product structure, and its necessary functionalities, which will form the final project and fulfill the client’s business expectations.

How to make good specifications step by step?

1. Set business goals

Preparing the product specification start with a general description of your vision. What goals does the site or application have to fulfill? Where did the idea come from? What problems will be solved? Define the basic features of the product and its assumptions at this stage. Identifying the aims will be a starting point for the team, offering you more relevant solutions.

2. Specify the user group

Who will be the user of your website or application? What sex and age? What are one’s needs? Finding the answers to these questions is a critical stage in listing specifications. Create a user`s description and write down the use cases. On this basis, you can create a website or application that better suits potential users’ needs.

3. Use examples

Show pages and apps you like and dislike. Introduce similar products that you think are more or less successful. Using examples is a good starting point for further work for programmers. It will allow them to create a website or application, including solutions you like and those that will not work for your project. Sometimes the agency will have better, based on experience, ideas to achieve the same outcomes with less time or cost.

4. Plan the structure

The site’s structure or application may change during the project, but the planning of information architecture itself is an extremely valuable procedure. You will be sure that none of the important elements of the product are left out and foreseen by programmers working on it. To visualize a website or application, use blocks and other interface elements, list the screens you need, create a sitemap, or even a prototype.

5. Draw up a list of requirements

Specify the requirements for the environment in which the site or application operates, the frameworks used, the way users log in, security policies, development technology, search engine optimization, or functionality to appear on the website or in the application.

A great idea for a website or web application is not enough. The challenge is to create a product that is useful to users and, consequently, also profitable. A coherent and detailed specification is necessary for this. Using it, the developers you work with can understand your vision and turn it into a fully successful product!

Why is it worth writing down the specification?

The functional specification is one of the key elements of any IT project. The project’s success depends on it. Attaching the documentation to the contract concluded by the client with the contractor regarding the website or web application is an essential step.

Lack of specs or preparing it carelessly in a rush may result in the programmer not understanding your business needs or technical requirements, especially that no one can read your mind. The potential threat to the product can be easily avoided by applying good practices when creating specifications.