7.2 - FRD – Functional Requirements Document

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Introduction to FRD

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Teacher
Teacher

Welcome everyone! Today we will discuss the Functional Requirements Document, or FRD. Can anyone tell me what they think it is?

Student 1
Student 1

Is it a document that details the functionalities of a system?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! The FRD translates business needs into specific functionalities. Why do you think this might be important?

Student 2
Student 2

To guide developers and testers on what to build and how to test it?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! An FRD ensures everyone is aligned on how the system should behave. Remember, it's focused on the 'how'. Let's look at some key components.

Teacher
Teacher

The first component is Functional Features, which are detailed functionalities categorized for clarity. Can anyone give me an example of what a functional feature might look like?

Student 3
Student 3

Maybe something like 'the system shall allow users to log in using an email and password'?

Teacher
Teacher

Perfect example! Now let’s explore how these features are visually represented.

Teacher
Teacher

Another essential component is Use Case Diagrams. These illustrate how users will interact with the system. Who can tell me why visual documentation might be helpful?

Student 4
Student 4

It makes it easier for non-technical stakeholders to understand the system!

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Visualization can clarify complex interactions. To sum up, the FRD is vital for aligning expectations and guiding development.

Key Components of the FRD

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Teacher
Teacher

Now let’s dive deeper into the key components of the FRD. We mentioned Functional Features earlier. Who remembers what they are?

Student 1
Student 1

They are the specific capabilities the system should have!

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Next, what about Data Flow Diagrams? What do you think their use is?

Student 2
Student 2

They show how data moves through the system, right?

Teacher
Teacher

Spot on! Data Flow Diagrams help visualize the interactions between data processes. Now let’s discuss Acceptance Criteria. Why might these be significant?

Student 3
Student 3

They help define when a feature is considered complete and functioning as expected?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Acceptable criteria bridge the gap between requirement and implementation. In summary, the FRD compiles all essential information for functional requirements, making it easier for developers and stakeholders to engage meaningfully.

Role of the Business Analyst in FRD

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Teacher
Teacher

Let’s now explore the role of the Business Analyst in the creation of the FRD. What might be some of their responsibilities?

Student 4
Student 4

They gather and validate business requirements?

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! They also bridge the gap between technical and business teams. Why is that important?

Student 1
Student 1

It ensures that the developers understand the business context behind what they're building?

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! Collaboration and communication are key elements of the BA's role. They also ensure traceability between requirements. Can anyone explain what traceability means?

Student 2
Student 2

It means linking requirements to test cases to ensure everything is covered?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! The BA also validates the functional aspects with stakeholders, ensuring accuracy. To sum up this session, the Business Analyst plays a vital role in creating, maintaining, and validating the FRD.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

The Functional Requirements Document (FRD) defines detailed functionalities of a system based on business needs.

Standard

The FRD is crucial for translating high-level business requirements into specific, actionable functionalities of a system. It guides developers and testers on how the system should behave under different scenarios and ensures alignment between business expectations and technical implementation.

Detailed

Detailed Summary of FRD

The Functional Requirements Document (FRD) is an essential artifact in requirement documentation, representing a detailed breakdown of business needs into functional specifications. It focuses on the 'how' of the functionalities the system must deliver in response to particular user inputs or behavior. This document serves as a critical reference for developers and testers alike, ensuring that the technical implementation reflects business expectations.

Key Components of FRD:
1. Functional Features - Detailed, numbered, and categorized functionalities of the system.
2. Use Case Diagrams / User Stories - Visual representation of user interactions with the system.
3. Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) - Illustrations of how data moves through the system.
4. Interface Requirements - Specifications of how the user will interact with the system, including forms and APIs.
5. Business Rules - Explicit rules that govern how inputs and outputs are processed.
6. Acceptance Criteria - Clear conditions to determine whether the functionalities have been successfully implemented.

The FRD enables traceability of functional components back to business requirements while validating functionalities in collaboration with stakeholders. It targets developers, testers, and technical architects, ensuring that all aspects of the system's behavior are well defined.

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Definition of FRD

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A Functional Requirements Document (FRD) translates business needs into detailed functionalities or behaviors of the system. It outlines how the system should react to specific inputs or behave in particular situations.

Detailed Explanation

The FRD is a crucial document in the project as it shifts the focus from the high-level business goals defined in the BRD to the specifics of what the system should do. It takes the business needs and translates them into detailed, actionable items that developers can use to create the software. Essentially, it describes the expected behavior of the system in various scenarios.

Examples & Analogies

Think of the FRD like a recipe in a cookbook. Just as a recipe gives precise instructions on how to combine ingredients to create a dish, the FRD provides detailed instructions on how to build the functionalities of a software system based on the overarching needs.

Purpose of FRD

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● To serve as a guide for developers and QA teams
● To define the 'what the system should do' in technical terms

Detailed Explanation

The purpose of the FRD is twofold: first, it serves as a roadmap for developers and testers, ensuring they understand the requirements needed to implement the system's functionalities. Second, it specifically articulates 'what the system should do' in technical terms—this focus allows the development team to know exactly what they are building and how it should function.

Examples & Analogies

Consider the FRD as the instruction manual for an advanced gadget. Just like the instruction manual tells the user how the gadget operates, the FRD guides developers on what features to build and how they should work.

Key Components of FRD

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● Functional Features (numbered and categorized)
● Use Case Diagrams / User Stories
● Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)
● Interface Requirements (e.g., web forms, APIs)
● Business Rules
● Acceptance Criteria

Detailed Explanation

The FRD is structured to include several key components that allow all stakeholders to understand the functionalities clearly. These components include: functional features that are categorized for easy reference, visual representations like use case diagrams that depict user interactions, data flow diagrams that show how data moves within the system, interface requirements specifying how users will interact with the system, business rules that guide the system's operations, and acceptance criteria that outline the conditions under which a feature is considered complete.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a blueprint for a new building. Just as a blueprint includes different sections with instructions for various aspects of the building, such as plumbing, electrical systems, and structural designs, the FRD contains distinct areas that guide developers in creating the software.

Example Functional Requirement

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Example Functional Requirement:
'When a user clicks ‘Download Invoice’, the system should generate a PDF with billing details.'

Detailed Explanation

This example illustrates a specific functional requirement that describes what the system should do in a particular user scenario. It provides clarity on the expected behavior of the software when a specific action (user clicking the download button) occurs, ensuring all team members understand exactly what is required. Such clarity helps avoid miscommunication during the development process.

Examples & Analogies

Think of this requirement like asking a restaurant to prepare a specific dish. When you place your order, you're expecting the restaurant to know exactly what to prepare based on your request, just as the FRD specifies exactly what the software must do when a user interacts with it.

BA’s Role in FRD

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● Collaborate with technical teams to elaborate functional needs
● Ensure traceability between business and functional requirements
● Validate functionality with stakeholders

Detailed Explanation

Business Analysts (BAs) play a critical role in the development of the FRD. They work closely with technical teams to flesh out the functional needs that stem from business requirements. Furthermore, they ensure there is a clear connection (or traceability) between what the business wants and what the developers are tasked to build. Finally, BAs validate the requirements with stakeholders to make sure everything aligns with their expectations and business goals.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a project manager organizing a team for an event. The project manager needs to communicate the event's vision to the catering, decor, and entertainment teams to make sure everything flows together seamlessly. In a similar way, the BA coordinates between business stakeholders and technical teams to ensure that everyone is moving in the same direction.

Target Audience for FRD

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Target Audience:
Developers, Testers, Technical Architects

Detailed Explanation

The FRD is tailored for a specific audience within the project environment. Primarily, it serves the needs of developers who will build the system based on the functional requirements. Testers use the FRD to understand the expected behavior of the system to create test cases that ensure the functionalities work as intended. Additionally, technical architects refer to the FRD for system design considerations to ensure they align infrastructure and architecture with the software requirements.

Examples & Analogies

Think of the FRD as a specialized document like a medical prescription. Just as a prescription includes essential information that pharmacists and medical professionals need to dispense the right medication, the FRD contains crucial details that developers, testers, and technical architects need to build and evaluate the system effectively.

Definitions & Key Concepts

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Key Concepts

  • Functional Requirements Document (FRD): A detailed document translating business needs into system functionalities.

  • Functional Features: Descriptions of capabilities the system must deliver.

  • Use Case Diagrams: Visual tools illustrating interactions between users and the system.

  • Acceptance Criteria: Conditions defining when a feature is deemed complete.

  • Business Rules: Regulations that dictate system behavior.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

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Examples

  • Example of a Functional Feature: 'The system shall allow users to reset their password via email.'

  • Example of Acceptance Criteria: 'The password reset email must be sent within 5 minutes of request.'

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • For features in the FRD, remember they define, what the system will do, it's quite prime.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Imagine a cafe where every order must follow specific rules; the menu is the FRD guiding the staff.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • To remember the components of the FRD, think of 'FUD WAC' - Functional Features, Use Cases, Diagrams, Write Acceptance criteria, and Business Rules.

🎯 Super Acronyms

Use the acronym 'FUBIC' - Features, Use Cases, Business Rules, Interfaces, and Criteria to summarize the key components.

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

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  • Term: FRD (Functional Requirements Document)

    Definition:

    A document that outlines specific functionalities the system must deliver based on business needs.

  • Term: Functional Features

    Definition:

    Detailed descriptions of system functionalities categorized for clarity.

  • Term: Use Case Diagrams

    Definition:

    Visual representations of the interactions between users and the system.

  • Term: Data Flow Diagrams (DFD)

    Definition:

    Illustrations showing how data moves through a system.

  • Term: Acceptance Criteria

    Definition:

    Conditions that define whether a feature meets the requirements and is finished.

  • Term: Business Rules

    Definition:

    Explicit rules governing the behavior and procedures of a business.