A Simple Checklist for Writing Requirements That Engineers Can Actually Use

The post defines a functional requirement as what the system does in response to a user action and recommends identifying requirements with a three-question loop.

It advises writing each requirement in a WHEN [user action] THEN [system response] format to reduce ambiguity and improve testability.

Authors recommend validating requirements with clarity, testability, and scope checks and separating functional from non-functional items.

A reusable template and a final handoff checklist are provided so every requirement maps to a concrete test.