So what is the "Terms of Reference"?

This text was created purely for the sake of the existence of a permanent link, which the author himself, and all of you, could safely send to your future customers, colleagues, relatives and friends in the form of a standardized answer to the question: “Do I need your technical specification and in general what this?"

As they say - "instead of a thousand words", because every time evangelizing for 4-5 hours on Skype on this topic becomes already tiresome, and the global tendency to slip open nonsense under the definition of "Terms of Reference" is only getting stronger over the years.

Problem

The fact is that when there is a specific format, as well as a clear and intelligible definition of a term, then all the manipulations and substitutions of it for your own briefs, prototypes, questionnaires, descriptions and simply incoming applications on the fly look, at least, unprofessional. Therefore, we begin with a scientific definition of our concept: what is a statement of work

Terms of Reference - an initial document for the design of a technical object (product). The TK establishes the main purpose of the developed object, its technical characteristics, quality indicators and technical and economic requirements, instructions for performing the necessary stages of creating documentation (design, technological, software, etc.) and its composition, as well as special requirements. The terms of reference is a legal document - as an appendix is ​​included in the contract between the customer and the contractor for the design work and is its basis: it determines the procedure and conditions of work, including the goal, objectives, principles, expected results and deadlines. That is, there must be objective criteria by which it is possible to determine whether a particular item of work has been completed or not. All the changes additions and clarifications of the wording of the TK must be agreed with the customer and approved by him. 

This is also necessary because in the event that in the process of solving the design problem, inaccuracies or inaccuracies of the initial data are found, it becomes necessary to determine the degree of guilt of each of the parties participating in the development, the distribution of losses incurred in this connection. A technical assignment, as a term in the field of information technology, is a legally significant document containing comprehensive information necessary for setting tasks for executors to develop, implement or integrate a software product, information system, website, portal or other IT service. that in the event that in the process of solving the design problem, inaccuracies or inaccuracies of the initial data are found, it becomes necessary to determine the degree of guilt of each of the parties participating in the development, the distribution of losses incurred in this connection. 

A technical assignment, as a term in the field of information technology, is a legally significant document containing comprehensive information necessary for setting tasks for executors to develop, implement or integrate a software product, information system, website, portal or other IT service. that in the event that in the process of solving the design problem, inaccuracies or inaccuracies of the initial data are found, it becomes necessary to determine the degree of guilt of each of the parties participating in the development, the distribution of losses incurred in this connection. A technical assignment, as a term in the field of information technology, is a legally significant document containing comprehensive information necessary for setting tasks for executors to develop, implement or integrate a software product, information system, website, portal or other IT service.