Spezifikationsabweichungen

Spezifikationen, commonly translated as specifications, are formal documents that describe the requirements, constraints, and attributes that a product, system, or process must satisfy. They serve as a reference point for design, development, testing, procurement, and compliance, helping to align stakeholder expectations and guide decision making.

Functional specifications define what the system should do, including features, behaviors, and interactions. Non-functional specifications cover qualities such as performance, reliability, security, usability, and maintainability. Technical specifications detail materials, dimensions, interfaces, data formats, protocols, and standards. Interface specifications describe how components interact with each other, while acceptance criteria state the conditions under which a deliverable is considered complete.

Content typically includes requirements, constraints, assumptions, acceptance criteria, quality attributes, and traceability. Good specifications are testable, unambiguous, and verifiable, with measurable criteria and clear prioritization. They often reference standards and regulatory obligations.

The specification process usually involves elicitation from stakeholders, analysis, and refinement; validation to ensure alignment with user needs, and verification to confirm the specified criteria are implementable. Documentation is maintained under version control, and changes are managed through a formal process to preserve traceability from requirements to tests and delivered artifacts.

Well-defined specifications reduce risk, support procurement and integration, and facilitate maintenance. Poorly defined specifications can cause scope creep, defects, delays, and disputes. Many domains apply standards (for example ISO/IEC, IEEE, or industry-specific guidelines) to structure specifications and ensure interoperability.