In the tech world, you're likely to work on a variety of projects with a variety of different people! From large-scale new features to redesigns of existing functionalities, you'll need ways to identify project goals, plan its development, and take into account aspects like a budget or timeline.
Enter project briefs!
Project briefs are common in many industries, whether it's design, engineering, architecture, or any other sector where planning is an important part of the job.
Think about a project brief like planning your vacation. You'll want to consider where you are now, where you want to go, and all logistics of getting from point A to point B.
Project brief elements
What goes into a project brief is ultimately up to you and depends on the nature of your work with a company or client.
Some collaborations will require a strict commitment up front on all project elements, for example if there's a hard deadline or a meticulous client involved. Others may not!
Nonetheless, most project briefs include the following elements:
Summary
Stakeholders
Goals
Timeline
Budget
You could add other fields, including clarifications of scope, division of labor, methodologies, performance indicators, or more. Nonetheless, the above five categories will give you a good base to which you can add your own additional sections as necessary!
Take the first page of this sample project brief for an application by Samsung, for example:
They use different words for each section, but you'll notice a brief summary, the stakeholders involved in the project, and the goals.
In the first part of this course, you'll learn to break down those first five important elements of a brief, but don't worry -- you'll be equipped to go farther if you want to! 🚀
Why should I write a brief? Can't I just talk to everyone involved and then start working?
You can skip a brief...if you're okay with missed deadlines, false expectations, or unforeseen factors. No thanks! Take the time to write a brief so that you, your collaborators, and other people in the company always have a reference point for your project.
