What is the main purpose of a business requirements document?

The primary purpose of a business requirements document (BRD) is to provide detailed descriptions of user needs. This document is essential in capturing and articulating the requirements from the stakeholders and users, ensuring that the project team has a clear understanding of what is needed to fulfill the objectives. It serves as a foundational reference point for the entire project, guiding the development process and ensuring alignment with stakeholder expectations.

By thoroughly detailing user needs, the BRD helps to minimize misunderstandings and miscommunications throughout the project lifecycle. It becomes a critical tool for validating that the final product meets the specified requirements, thus ensuring that the outcome delivers value to the users and stakeholders involved.

In contrast to other options, such as outlining the project timeline or defining technical architecture, the BRD is primarily focused on understanding and documenting user requirements. It is not meant to serve as a contract between teams, although it does provide a framework for collaboration and agreement on what needs to be achieved.