Writing project specifications
Context and rationale
The specifications document is the starting point of any project and provides a structured framework. Writing it is one of the key phases of the project. Often contractual, it requires consensus, involves different people and serves as a roadmap and a project communication tool.
This course will enable you to acquire the technical knowledge and methodological know-how needed to write a project's specifications.
Training objectives
- Acquiring an approach for precisely formalising your needs
- Writing the most sensitive points of your specifications
- Conducting a needs analysis
- Mastering the key stages and the process of developing a project's specifications
Training content
Fundamentals of writing specifications
- Presentation, scope, objectives and constraints
- Types of specifications
- People concerned by the specifications: project owner, project manager, leads, users, experts
- Content of the specifications: sections, technical and legal clauses, context, description, people involved
Project management strategy
- Approach adapted to the type of project
- Project life cycle
- Positioning the specifications in relation to the project life cycle
- Roles and responsibilities
- Validation and decisions
Deciphering the different development stages
- Identifying the development arrangements and the sections needed
- Practising functional analysis
- Carrying out a value analysis
- Ensuring consistency with other documents: project sheet, assignment letter
Designing the specifications
- Needs analysis: determining the criteria to take into account when choosing the format, validating the content and distributing it
- Translating the activity into functional business objects
- Identifying and formulating constraints from the outset
- Writing the different sections
- Describing services
- Contracting with a service provider
Involving the different people in the writing
- Listing the partners and their role in the project: project owners, clients, internal or external service providers, experts
- Determining which partners to consult when writing the specifications
- Using the specifications as an internal and external communication tool
Case study: writing specifications
- The training takes the form of a documented presentation, delivered by the trainer for each module
- Case studies
- Practical cases of writing specifications
- Discussions, interactive work between participants
- Reactions, observations, suggestions
- Illustration of strengths and weaknesses
Let's discuss your training needs
Free, no-obligation offer. An adviser will call you back within 48 hours.