What is a User Requirements Specification (URS)?
- A document that captures what users need from the system
- Focuses on user goals, tasks, and interactions with the system
- Describes functional and non-functional needs in a way that is understandable to users and stakeholders
Why is URS important
- Ensures the system meets user expectation
- Serves as a bridge between stakeholders and developers
- Helps prevent misunderstandings and scope creep
- Provides a basis for testing and validation
Key information presents in a URS
- Who the users are and their needs
- What users want to achieve
- User requirements - what the system is expected to do for the user
- Non-functional requirements - how well is it expected to do it
- How users interact with the system
Writing good user requirements
- User simple, clear language
- Focus on “what” not the “how”
- Make requirements testable and measurable
- Engage users in the process
Common mistakes in URS
- Vague requirements (e.g. The system should be fast)
- Mixing design details (e.g., specifying data structure)
- Ignoring edge cases and special user needs
- Not validating requirements with real users
Summary
- If a Vision & Scope Document exists, URS is informed by the vision and scope
- URS captures what users need to achieve their goals
- It guides development and ensures usability
- A well-written URS reduces project risks and scope creep
| Key Information | URS (User Requirements Specification) | SRS (Software Requirements Specification) |
|---|---|---|
| Who the users are | Defined explicitly | Implied through requirements |
| What users want to achieve | Captures user goals and needs | Translates goals into functional specs |
| Functional Requirements | High-level expectations | Detailed software behaviors |
| Non-Functional Requirements | Performance expectations | Technical performance constraints |
| User Interaction | Describes how users interact | Defines UI and interface requirements |
Verification of a URS
- Formal reviews
- End users/business stakeholders
- Project managers
- System analysts
- Quality assurance team
- Developer (to check feasibility)
- Checklist
- Are the requirements clear and unambiguous
- Are all expected system functionality covered
- Are there conflicting or duplicate requirements
- Are non-functional requirements included
- Verify against business reads
- Traceability matrix
- Stakeholder validation (survey)
- Use case analysis
- Completeness and consistency checks
- Are all major user interaction covered
- Are there missing requirements or unclear assumption
- Are terms and acronyms defined, and definitions consistent throughout the document
- Feasibility analysis
- Technical feasibility (can it be done with existing technology)
- Budget feasibility (can it be done within the budget)
- Time feasibility (can it be done in time)
- Prototyping
Back to parent page: Requirement Elicitation and Analysis
SDLC Requirement_Engineering Requirement_Elicitation User_Requirement URS SOFT3202