Functional Specification document

Functional Specification document (template)

Functional specification definition

A functional specification (also, functional spec, specs, functional specifications document (FSD), or Program specification) in systems engineering and software development is the documentation that describes the requested behaviour of an engineering system. The documentation typically describes what is needed by the system user as well as requested properties of inputs and outputs (e.g. of the software system).

Why is producing Functional Specification document tricky?

Production of a comprehensive Functional Specification document is in itself a relatively arduous task, typically a Functional Specification document will contain multiple sections that discuss each of the required topics necessary when delivering a project.
Therefore authoring a Functional Specification document takes some specialist knowledge.
Additionally the responsibility for the production of a Functional Specification document often falls to those in non IT or project management roles. Generally subject matter experts are asked to put together the documents, for example the Associations Membership Manager is asked to document functional requirements for their membership system upgrade project.
These individuals are therefore not usually IT systems or project management trained, but are none the less held responsible for producing the documents, and by inference the success of the project.
Not a comfortable position for the otherwise competent domain expert!

Functional Specifications & SpecDoc.Me – templating

SpecDoc.Me uses defined document templates along with lists of common functions to help you easily create your own customised functional specification documents.

SpecDoc.Me is designed to:

1. Reduce the risk associated with production of Functional Specification documents
2. Dramatically reduce the time taken in producing of Functional Specification documents
3. Increase the quality of the Functional Specification documents created
4. Increase the quality of the subsequent project outcomes
5. Reduce cost of the subsequent project outcomes
6. Assist in team or vendor selection for project delivery

You can find out how it works here.