subject: Technical Writing - Importance of Scope Statement, Marketing Specs,and Functional Specs Documents [print this page] There are many different kinds of "spec sheets" that a technical writer should pay close attention to since they may (and they do) prove to be indispensable for writing all sorts of technical document.
We have already covered in another article what Design Specs, and Testing Specs documents are and why a technical writer should be familiar with them.
Here are some other important "spec sheets":
SCOPE STATEMENT - Technically this is not a "spec sheet" but it is still very important since it is the very first statement that needs to be written down before a project can start. It defines the general nature of the project; its audience; what it is supposed to deliver and solve what kind of a problem (the "problem statement"); the names of "stake holders;" what should be project produce at the end ("project deliverables"); major "milestone" dates in project calendar; and the rough cost estimate.
MARKETING SPECS (a.k.a. "Marketing Requirements Document (MRD)," "Marketing Requirements Specs" or just "Requirements Specs" for short) - The list of all the functions and features that the product should have; the profile ("demographics") of the market segment(s) that the product should be targeted for; the list of benefits that the product should offer to the end-users; analysis of competing products with their contrasting and similar features and benefits; etc.
FUNCTIONAL SPECS (a.k.a. "Functional Specifications Document (FSD) or just the "specs,") - The detailed engineering document that lists of all the technical features of all system components and functions. Without the details included in the functional specs, no product can be designed or manufactured.
For example, a marketing spec can mention that "the Gadget delivers ice cubes shaped like stars at the push of a button."
But that means almost nothing for engineers unless they also know the shape and exact size of the Gadget, all the circuitry and digital components in it, the temperature range within which the Gadget should operate, what kind of "system load" it should withstand, where should exactly each bolt, screw and nut be placed, etc.
That's why a functional spec is usually the longest, most detailed and hardest to understand spec sheet that a technical writer has to deal with. But for the very same reason, it is also the most important since it usually has the answers to many product-related questions that a writer might have.
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