Product requirements in project management refer to the specific needs, wants, and expectations of the stakeholders for a particular product or system. These requirements are used to guide the development of the product and ensure that it meets the stakeholders’ objectives.

Product requirements can be grouped into different categories such as functional requirements, which describe what the product should do, and non-functional requirements, which describe how the product should perform.

Product requirements are typically gathered and documented during the planning phase of a project, through techniques such as interviews, surveys, and workshops with stakeholders. Once the requirements have been gathered, they are usually reviewed and prioritized by the stakeholders, and then used to guide the development of the product.

It is important to have a clear understanding of the product requirements, as they form the basis for the project scope and objectives, and they will be used to measure the success of the project.

Typical characteristics of a product and project

Project Requirements

Project requirements are the agreed-upon conditions or capabilities of a product, service, or outcome that the project is designed to satisfy.

They define what the project should accomplish, what constraints the project must operate under, and what the final product or outcome of the project should look like.

Project requirements can be grouped into different categories such as business requirements, which describe the needs and objectives of the stakeholders, and technical requirements, which describe the specific capabilities and features that the final product or outcome must have.

Example of Product Requirements and Project Requirements

Product requirement of a mobile phone:

• Functional requirements:
  • Make and receive calls
  • Send and receive text messages
  • Browse the internet
  • Take photos and videos
  • Play music and videos
  • GPS navigation
• Non-functional requirements:
  • Battery life of at least 8 hours
  • Waterproof and dust-resistant
  • The screen size of at least 5 inches
  • The operating system must be compatible with at least 3 major app stores

Project requirement of a construction project:

• Business requirements:
  • The building should have at least X square feet of space
  • The building should have at least Y number of rooms
  • The building should be compliant with local building codes and regulations
  • The project should be completed within Z months
• Technical requirements:
  • The building should be able to withstand winds of at least X miles per hour
  • The building should have at least Y inches of insulation
  • The building should have fire suppression systems installed
  • The building should be accessible for people with disabilities

Project Requirements of An IT project:

• Business requirements:
  • The system should be able to process at least X number of transactions per second
  • The system should be able to handle Y number of concurrent users
  • The system should integrate with existing systems
  • The project should be completed within Z months
• Technical requirements:
  • The system should have at least X GB of RAM
  • The system should have at least Y GHz of processing power
  • The system should have at least Z TB of storage
  • The system should be able to encrypt data at rest

In summary, Product requirements are specific to the product and its features, while Project requirements are specific to the project and its objectives. Both are important in project management and both should be gathered and documented during the planning phase of a project.