PRD
- Ian Dillon
- Astrid Decrop
Purpose of the product requirements document ('PRD')
The PRD serves as the single source of truth that outlines the product's vision, features, functionalities, and requirements.
It consolidates information from various stages of the product development process, providing detailed context for the engineering team.
The PRD ensures that everyone—from product managers and designers to engineers and testers—has a shared understanding of what KPI the product aims to effect, and what is required for successful implementation.
Guidelines for creating the PRD
Align with KPI and goal
Ensure that the PRD clearly states which KPI the product aims to impact.
Consolidate information from previous documents
The PRD should consolidate the insights and requirements from user stories, acceptance criteria, design documents, and test scripts into one place.
This is to provide a single source of truth for all information on the product, reducing the risk of inconsistencies and gaps.
Define the scope clearly
Clearly outline what is included in the product scope and what is excluded.
This helps manage expectations and prevents scope creep during development.
Specify assumptions and constraints
Document any assumptions made during the planning process and any constraints that may impact development, such as technical limitations, regulatory requirements, or resource availability.
Include a timeline and milestones
Outline the expected timeline for development, including key milestones and deliverables. This schedule helps in planning and tracking progress.