Getting a requirements document just right takes a lot of practice and patience.

It's a bit like baking a cake – you need to have just the right amount of each ingredient or the end results will not be right and ultimately end up in the garbage. Conversely, if you have too much and are adding just to add, that can adversely affect the outcome as well. For example, gummy bears, bananas, avocado, and maple syrup may all be delicious on their own, but that doesn’t mean a red velvet cake will turn out better if I add all those things to the batter. There has to be thought about what you are doing, or you will end up baking up a recipe for requirements disaster. Here are some surefire ways to sour the mix:

1) Too much ambiguity

Too much ambiguity leads to the obvious lack of clear outcomes and direction that the requirements document is intended to give to the reader. Lack of clarity would be like a recipe telling you, ‘Add as much flour, sugar, and oil as you think looks good.’ It may feel liberating to make those decisions on your own, but unless you have some previous expertise in baking, it will most likely lead to a sub-par end product. The details will make a difference, and taking a finer approach makes the result clearer and closer to the intention.

2) Too much detail

Having such fine detail can be nearly as distracting as lacking details. When you overload the requirements and saturate them with complexities that do not need to be there, you can inadvertently cloud the reader from understanding the essence of what the requirements are trying to articulate. Does it add value? Does it enhance the message? Will it support my intended outcomes? Those are questions you should ask before including more details for detail's sake.

3) Not enough supporting material

Chemistry is really at the heart of baking, and it takes some magical components to really tie it all together. Without a leavener, your cake will not rise. When a requirements document does not have any process flows, mock ups, or reference material, it too can fall flat. Be sure to include enhancing documentation that illustrates your points in alternate ways which will ensure the message is understood by multiple audiences.

4) Excluding feedback from others

Like anything in the creative process, feedback should be included as a part of the evolution of the output. A requirements document is not meant for one person, rather, it is meant to be shared among a population of individuals who have a stake in the project. Having feedback on what's been created before it gets too far in the process can save you a lot of headaches. Sneaking a taste of your cake batter prior to baking helps give you the feedback whether you hit the mark or not- and, offers you another chance to get it right.
*PSA: We do not condone consuming batter with raw eggs in it :)

Want to know one of the secrets to baking a really great cake?

In includes a bit of trial and error. Your first requirements document will not be perfect, and it will take work to get nearer to the ideal. The point is that you try adding from the right pantry of ingredients, pay attention to the amount and quality, and have everything you need to tie it all together along with the right cooks in the kitchen.