Failing to define clear and well-structured requirements can lead to numerous problems throughout the software development lifecycle. Key risks include:

<ul>
 <li>Miscommunication and misunderstandings: Without clear requirements, stakeholders may have conflicting interpretations, causing confusion, delays, and ultimately a product that does not satisfy customer needs.</li>
 
 <li>Lack of alignment: Teams may struggle to agree on project goals and objectives, leading to divergent visions of the final product and a mismatch with customer expectations.</li>
 
 <li>Lack of traceability: It becomes challenging to monitor progress, identify defects, and manage changes, resulting in poor product quality.</li>
 
 <li>Lack of flexibility: Adapting to evolving requirements or technology changes is difficult without a clear baseline, limiting the product’s ability to evolve effectively.</li>
 
 <li>Increased costs: Poorly defined requirements often lead to rework, wasted effort, and cost overruns, making the project more expensive than necessary.</li>
</ul>

In summary, the absence of well-defined requirements can cause serious issues that compromise the project’s success and deliver a final product that fails to meet customer needs.

Without clear requirements, projects risk miscommunication, misalignment, lack of traceability, inflexibility, and increased costs — all of which can jeopardize the quality and success of the final product.

Ellygent Blog: project-risks

The Risks of Not Having Well-Defined Requirements in Software Projects