System Requirements Specification and
Its Key Components
Providing business analyst activity in IT company is essencial to keep up with the last technology novelties of the industry, its market trends and to be known for the popular and recognized research of the industry. However, awareness of BA`s basic rules, methods, and instruments are no less important. Especially, if you have just started…
One of the main activities of a BA is work with requirements. From one side BA, communicates with stakeholders or product owner and collect their business requirements. On the other side, BA has to develop software requirements for developers. When working with information, it’s important to collect all the necessary artifacts, process and systemize information in different kinds of documents. There are three types of requirement documents concerning the level of their context:
Business Requirement Document (BRD)
Software Requirement Specification (SRS)
Functional Requirement Specification (FRS)
Business Requirement Document
Business Requirement Document (BRD) is a high-level document. BRD includes the main idea of IT project and answers the “WHY” question f its aim as a business idea. BRD is used by stakeholders, investors, top managers, middle-managers, and analytics of the project.
Software Requirement Specification
Software Requirement Specification (SRS) is a middle-level document. SRS answers the “HOW” question and describes the basic structure and stage of project implementation. This document is used by Product Owner, Project Manager, and Tech Lead.
Functional Requirement Specification
Functional Requirement Specification (FRS) is a detailed development document. It describes “WHAT” is needed to do to get expected results. FRD is used by Business Analysts, System Analysts, QA Engineers, and developers teams.
Read also: What is Role of Business Analyst in IT company
SRS structure
Let`s pay more attention to SRS as a “bridge” between a business idea and its implementation. SRS includes:
the architect of the project with definite visual mockups;
high-level process diagrams;
a description of other necessary IT systems for synchronization and cooperation;
team structure;
terms of implementation.
It describes functional and non-functional requirements. SRS is a detailed plan that gives enough information for budget calculation. The key components of SRS are:
1. Intro. Description of the purpose of the document, way of business idea implementation, scope of work, overview of a future product.
2. General description of the project, its architect, functions, user characteristics, marketplace, features, and benefits.
3. Functional requirements. The expected results of the software system are totally explained by diagrams, use cases, mockups and other appropriate instruments. Overview of database architect, its processing. Stage and terms of development are ordered and scheduled.
4. Non-functional requirements are described as for the question of system safety and security. Its stable work within on-line and off-line conditions.
5. Interface requirements which explain the way of communication between the future product and other related systems, between product and users.
6. Budget and schedule. The scope of work is basic information for budget calculation. Of course, it also depends on the developer’s team and QA team quantity and experience level. Also, it gives the opportunity to schedule the stages of the project implementation.
7. Appendix. Description of terms, acronyms, and other specific information is gathered as references and explained.
The main principles of SRS documentation are:
clarity of definition
uniqueness of context
logical sequence in presentation
distinctness of purpose settings
conciseness
Mode of collection and presentation of SRS document is significant. On the one hand,, it should be comfortable and easy for users. On the other question of information access and safeness is actual. There is a variety of options Confluens, Google docs, Quip, Coda, etc.
Meanwhile, Business Analyst`s knowledge of the domain area plays a significant role. Understanding the high-level business process and market trends helps to escape risk of pitfalls and decrease time of investigation. Also, a deep comprehension of the domain is an advantage in understanding user expectations, UI/ UX, source of product hypothesis.
Than more attentive and detailed SRS document is than more clear and understandable work and action plan is. And short-term aims and strategic purposes are more achievable in a schedule frame.
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