Steps To Take When Building Your App

A Functional Specification Document (FSD) is a document constructed to provide an outline of how a web application, mobile app or software system operates. A comprehensive step-by-step overview of the functionality and flow of each item is provided in the document. An FSD is essentially a manual or blueprint where you’ll gain a better insight on how something will function, and the expected actions and behaviour of that apparatus. It’ll help you create a product users will love.

After the initial wireframe and quoting stage of the development process, a FSD is designed to map out the basic features and functionality. It is also created for the correct user flow for various user roles. This includes the administrator, logged in user and anonymous user.

A good FSD confirms that the production team, design team, QA team, and project managers all know exactly how the project should work. This is an important step in determining that all stakeholders involved in the creation of the software are on the same page and the end result is an application that works the way the customer intends.

Who Writes an FSD?

FSD’s designed at the beginning of each project are a joint collaboration between the UI/UX design team and the production team. The rationale for this is multi-fold:  

• The development lead brings in the initial project specifications and calculates the details of each element and the hours needed to create it.

• To offer a visual representation of the characteristics and user flow, the UI/UX team constructs the initial wireframes and clickable mock-ups.

• The functionality and features of the proposed data must comply and match with the approved designs. The development lead will assess and examine this thoroughly.

• The completion or approval of the FSD is when the document is delivered to the client.

• After client feedback and confirmation, as indicated in the document, milestone dates are assigned to each leg of development.

What Goes in an FSD?

To offer a consolidated expectation of the project flow and features organizations combine functional specifications while using cases and user stories as examples.

• “System shall” statements are a great way to produce a clear requirements document. Functional requirements and specifications outline the capabilities and features. For instance, “The system shall permit individuals to register and create a profile” or “The system shall have options to report. Administrators can then export those reports” as notable examples.

• Use Cases are a set of measures to provide a 'play-by-play' in the order of action. An example being: "User logs in and is redirected to the pricing tab, where they are prompted to choose from three drop-down menus containing: "

Combining the data and information provides an overall snapshot of the project and a step-by-step walkthrough, making the project simple to accomplish, detailed and clearly planned out.

Additions & Changes

When the document is given to the client, it is then the responsibility of the client to:

1. Review

2. Ask questions where necessary or appropriate, and make amendments

3. Sign off

This required process ensures that the design and development team are on the same page as the client, confirming that requirements will be completely fulfilled and that the correct functionality (as anticipated during the quotation process) will be created.

Matching the practical needs and wants of a client with the functionality, usability, and logic of the design and development teams is ultimately the goal of the FSD. In order to achieve milestones that work as planned and are carried out on schedule, the functional specification document helps to keep each software project on track.

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