A Requirement is a condition or capability that is necessary to be present in a product, service, or result to satisfy a business need.
Requirements define what stakeholders expect and need from a deliverable, forming the foundation for planning, design, development, and validation.
Key Characteristics
- Business-Driven – Directly tied to solving a specific business problem or need
- Verifiable – Must be clearly stated and testable through acceptance criteria
- Traceable – Can be linked to project objectives and tracked throughout the lifecycle
- Categorized by Type – May include functional, non-functional, technical, or regulatory
Example Scenarios
- A product must support multiple languages to meet market needs
- A service must meet a maximum response time of two seconds
- A system must comply with data privacy regulations
Role in Project and Product Delivery
- Defines Scope – Forms the basis of what the project will deliver
- Guides Development – Informs design and implementation decisions
- Enables Validation – Serves as the criteria for testing and stakeholder approval
- Reduces Risk – Ensures alignment between stakeholder needs and project outcomes
See also: Requirements Documentation, Collect Requirements, Scope Baseline, Business Need, Acceptance Criteria.