Productdefinities

Productdefinities, literally “product definitions” in Dutch, is a term used in product management and information management to refer to formal, structured descriptions of a product's identity, attributes, and intended use. They function as canonical references across teams and systems.

A productdefinitie typically includes: product name and version, scope and intended market, core features and benefits, use cases, differentiators, requirements (functional and non-functional), compatibility and constraints, pricing or licensing, and lifecycle status (development, launch, discontinuation). It may also specify performance criteria, acceptance criteria, and regulatory or standards compliance. The level of detail is chosen to support both design decisions and downstream processes such as documentation and support.

Purpose and use: It clarifies what the product is and is not, aligns engineering, marketing, sales, legal, and support, supports decision-making, and serves as input for other data management processes such as product information management (PIM) and product lifecycle management (PLM). It also aids external communications and documentation for customers and partners.

Creation and governance: A productdefinitie is typically produced through collaboration among product management, engineering, user research, and sales, and is reviewed and approved before release. Version control and multilingual localization are common requirements in global contexts.

Benefits and challenges: Clear definitions reduce ambiguity, speed development, improve data quality, and enable regulatory traceability. Challenges include keeping definitions current, avoiding overly broad scope, and maintaining consistency across domains and systems.