The software development process can be complicated and time-consuming, but a software requirements specification (SRS) document can simplify the product development process for development teams.
To build a high-quality software product, you must thoroughly understand and clearly define the software requirements specifications. This is where the software requirements specification document comes into play.
Believe it or not, this document is vital to the success of a software development project. A good SRS document can be the difference between a successful and a failed project.
This post will explain what an SRS document is, what goes into it, and the importance of clear SRS documentation for software development projects.
Understanding Software Requirements Specification Documents
A software requirement specification document provides a detailed description of the environment and the intended purpose of the software being developed. The software requirements specification document explains what the software will do and how it is expected to perform.
Clear software requirement specification documentation helps reduce the effort required from the software development team, and it also helps minimize the cost of software development.
A well-defined SRS document should set expectations for how the software will interact with hardware, other software programs, and end-users in various real-world situations.
Technical parameters such as response time, operating speed, maintainability, portability, availability, security, etc., should also be thoroughly evaluated in the software requirement specification document.
The Key Components of a Software Requirement Specification Document
A software requirements specification document has several components that are vital to its success. Let’s take a closer look at the key components of this technical document. Your business can also use these sections to build a general SRS template for future development projects.
Drivers of the Business
This section of the document is used to describe the reasons why the customer wants to develop the software. Not only will this part of the document serve as the introduction to the project, but it will also explain the opportunities the new software will provide.
In addition, if the proposed software is replacing a current software solution, this part of the document will also explain the issues with the current solution and how the new software will improve these problem areas.
The Business Model
The final software solution of any software engineering project must support the organization’s business model and processes. As a result, this section of the document is critical.
This section of the software specifications requirements document should describe the business model of the customer’s business and include process flow diagrams and support business functions and organizational goals.
Business and Functional Requirements
When describing software requirements, business and functional requirements should come first. Not only will this section provide the broad business requirements, but it will also include the technical functional system requirements necessary.
There will be other sections of the document that explore more of the technical aspects of the software product. However, in this section, the primary technical requirements of the software should be clearly described.
Use Cases
This section of the document should provide a complete description of which entities will use the software and how they will use it. Typically, the SRS report for a new project will utilize a use case diagram.
The diagram will depict which entities will interact with the software system and the different uses they will require.
Technical Environment
Software doesn’t operate in a vacuum. As a result, it is critical to define the non-functional requirements that make up the environment where the software will operate.
You might think non-functional requirements are less important, but that is untrue. Your software must operate somewhere, and there are technical restrictions related to this environment that the software must operate under.
System Attributes
In this section, the non-functional requirements that define the attributes of your software will be noted. These system attributes might not be functional requirements, but they are important.
The software attributes covered in this section include but are not limited to, scalability, security, availability, maintainability, and serviceability.
Constraints
In this portion of the report, any constraints the customer imposes are documented. In this section, engineering teams will also usually include their assumptions for the project and forecast how they assume the development process will go.
Customer Criteria
This section lists the conditions that must be met to satisfy the customer at the project’s conclusion. It is important to agree on what constitutes an acceptable software product. This section is vital for both the customer and the development team.
Why Should Your Business Use an SRS?
The primary purpose and benefit of a software requirements specification document is to deliver a complete overview of the development project and keep all teams and stakeholders aligned.
In addition to alignment, an SRS document also helps your business ensure that every requirement is met before delivery or deployment of the software. Plus, the SRS document can help your organization make vital decisions regarding the product’s life cycle.
While creating a detailed SRS document takes time, this investment of time and effort will be rewarded during the development phase of the project. This document is valuable because it helps your business understand its product, the business needs it serves, and its users.
Final Thoughts
SRS documents play an important role in software development. If your business is beginning the development process, you should insist upon creating one of these documents. An SRS will give your organization more oversight and a better understanding of the product and development process.
If you want to learn more about SRS documents and their value, contact an experienced software development partner like Koombea.
