BRD is short for Business Requirements Document.
A Business Requirements Document (BRD) is a formal document outlining the business needs, high-level requirements, and expected outcomes of a project or initiative. It serves as a foundational agreement between stakeholders, including the business, users, and technical teams, ensuring everyone is aligned on the goals and scope of the project.
Here's a breakdown of what a BRD typically includes:
- Executive Summary: A brief overview of the project and its objectives.
- Business Goals and Objectives: Clear articulation of what the business hopes to achieve.
- Problem Statement: Identifies the issues or opportunities the project addresses.
- Scope: Defines the boundaries of the project - what will and will not be included.
- Stakeholders: Lists all individuals or groups affected by the project.
- Business Requirements: Detailed descriptions of what the solution must do to meet business needs. These are typically expressed from a business perspective.
- Functional Requirements (often included or referenced): Describes what the system or solution should do in detail. While a BRD focuses on why the project is needed, functional requirements describe how the needs will be met.
- Non-Functional Requirements (often included or referenced): These cover the qualities of the system, such as performance, security, usability, and reliability.
- Assumptions and Constraints: Identifies factors that are assumed to be true and limitations that may impact the project.
- Success Criteria: Measurable criteria used to determine if the project has achieved its goals.
The BRD is an important document, especially when seeking technology service providers, consultants, or contractors. It provides a clear understanding of the project's objectives, helping them to accurately assess the requirements and propose appropriate solutions. Without a solid BRD, projects are at higher risk of scope creep, miscommunication, and ultimately, failure to meet business needs.
