It all depends on the project and your business model . If the project is small, you trust the performer, and the risk of not getting what you wanted is small, you can do with oral instructions.
If a project requires significant investments for you, it is associated with a complex IT-sphere, where there are many nuances due to the peculiarities of technologies, or with a creative sphere, it is worth fixing the requirements in the TOR.
You check the performer's attitude to the case. For example, come to a contractor without a technical specification, and he does not try to find out the details of the task and find out what exactly you need. This threatens with potential problems with the result.You are insured against unscrupulous contractors. If there is a technical task, the quality of the ordered product can be checked for compliance with the requirements - this is an argument for disputable situations.Easier to change performers. The development of a large project, for example, a website or an application, can take several years. If at the start you realized that the contractor is not doing well, if you have a technical assignment, it is easier to refuse his services and find a new one. Saving time to clarify requirements.Who should draw up the terms of referenceThere is no established practice - how to agree with the contractor.
The customer does it himselfFor example, Anatoly Shostak, general director of the architectural photography studio "ArchFoto", calls a situation when the customer immediately sends a detailed technical specification and asks to evaluate the work as an ideal order.
In such cases, we know exactly what, how and when to shoot. Accordingly, we can immediately calculate the cost and terms of work. But in most cases, customers do not have an exact TK, because they do not have a specific understanding of what exactly needs to be required from the contractor. In such cases, we invite them to fill out a form with leading questions.
Anatoly ShostakGeneral Director of "ArchFoto"CollaborationThe process may look like this: the customer formulates all the requirements for the future product, fills out the contractor's brief according to the sample, and then the nuances are agreed upon during the interview.
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