You have a promising idea for a new product. The first sketches feel logical, the direction seems clear and everyone shares the same vision. As soon as you dive deeper into the development process, doubts arise: Should the product also support these functionalities? Which materials are suitable? And what does the user need?
When the answers to these questions aren’t clear, the development process can quickly go in all directions. Creating a Program of Requirements (PoR) provides a solution for this. The document gives direction to your idea so you can be sure you are working on what is truly necessary. In this blog, we tell you more about it and what a PoR looks like at Beeliners.
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What is a Program of Requirements (PoR)?
A Program of Requirements (PoR) is a document in which all functional and technical requirements and wishes of a new product are recorded. It’s the basis for the development process and provides clear and unambiguous guidelines that a product must meet to achieve the desired end result.
This includes functions, usability requirements, materials, safety, as well as limitations and boundary conditions. During brainstorms and research, many insights often emerge about the user, the problem, and the intended outcome. Based on that information, the PoR is drawn up.
You can then use the document to test the measurable aspects of your product, to substantiate ideas and decisions, and to evaluate concepts. In addition, you use user validation to check whether your product still aligns with the needs of your target group. Based on the results, you can adjust the PoR. This keeps the entire product realization process sharp, structured, and goal-oriented.
Is a Program of Requirements mandatory?
No, a PoR is not legally required. However, we do recommend creating one when developing a new product. A PoR helps prevent miscommunication and the need to make adjustments to the product at a later stage.
Why is a PoR important?
The development of a new product always involves uncertainties. A PoR makes those uncertainties and technical goals transparent and priorities visible. This ensures that everyone, from client to developer, knows the requirements that the product must meet.
At Beeliners, we use the PoR as a guideline throughout the entire process. At the start, we create a list of requirements and wishes together with you. This forms the basis of the design. During the iterative process, it becomes increasingly clear what the product truly needs to be able to do and which requirements are actually feasible. In every sprint review, we further refine the requirements and assess whether the results align with the agreements.
The PoR therefore evolves along the way. It is not a static document, but a tool to stay focused and to continuously check whether the product still meets what is needed. In this way, we work together toward a high-quality product.
What should be included in a PoR?
Below are the elements that should at least be included in a PoR:
- Essential functions: What must the product absolutely be able to do? These are the most important functions that directly contribute to solving the target group’s problem.
- System requirements: System requirements describe the basic functionalities of the product. They outline how the product works at a high level, which interactions take place, and what level of performance is expected.
- Functional requirements: These requirements specify what the product must do to meet the defined functions. This includes operation, user scenarios, accuracy, ergonomics, or load capacity.
- Technical specifications: This section describes how the product is technically constructed: the materials used, production methods, dimensions, energy sources, batch sizes, and any limitations.
- Safety and security requirements: The product must be safe to use. Here you define which safety guidelines and risk considerations the product must comply with. This includes user safety, protection against damage, and, if relevant, digital security requirements.
- Conditions: Practical and strategic frameworks are defined here, such as maximum costs for prototypes, material limitations, deadlines, or dependencies on other systems or suppliers.
- Target group and usage situation: A product is developed for real people. Therefore, the PoR describes in the introductory text who the user is, how the product is used, in which context, and with what expectations. This provides direction for design choices and helps assess the value of functionalities. Ideally, research into the target group has already been conducted beforehand in market research, which can then be referenced in the introduction.
- Quality standards and certifications: Finally, the PoR includes all relevant quality criteria: the desired lifespan, reliability, performance, level of finish, and any standards or certifications the product must comply with. This ensures that everyone knows the quality level the product must meet before it can enter the market.
Who creates a Program of Requirements?
A PoR is created by the party responsible for product development, often in close collaboration with the client and other stakeholders. It is a joint effort, as both technical knowledge and insight into the target group and its needs are required to create a complete PoR.
The PoR at Beeliners
Our team works with a clear step-by-step plan to create a Program of Requirements. The goal is to ensure that every product we develop has a strong foundation. We go through the following steps:
- Identifying all stakeholders: We map out who is involved in the product, from end users to technical partners and internal teams. What do they expect, and what do they want to see in a product? This forms the basis of the PoR.
- Defining the goal and problem: What problem does your product solve? And what is the desired outcome? A clear goal prevents you from straying later or adding unnecessary functionalities.
- Determining technical and functional specifications: We clearly document which functions your product must have, under which conditions it will be used, and which technical requirements apply.
- Defining quality standards: From reliability to ease of use, we determine which quality guidelines must at least be met.
- Aligning budget and timeline: A realistic product is created through realistic frameworks. That is why we align budget, planning, and priorities in advance and monitor them during development.
- Formal approval: We include the most important requirements and expectations in the quotation. Once this is signed, the process begins.
- Continuous adjustments: The PoR itself continues to evolve during the process; it is a living document that becomes increasingly concrete as we develop, test, and gather feedback.
What happens after creating a PoR?
The Program of Requirements forms the basis for the first concepts we develop. We create ideas, prototypes, and scenarios that we test against the defined requirements. This makes it clearer which direction to take and which choices are sensible.
Curious about the exact steps we can take after creating a PoR? Feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to look at your specific situation and give answers to the next steps you can take.
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