Create a clear and comprehensive project brief

Creating a project brief is one of the most critical — and most overlooked — steps in launching a digital project. Whether you’re building a website, redesigning a platform, developing a new app, or integrating a CRM, a good project brief can save your team weeks of back-and-forth and prevent costly miscommunication.

But not just any document will do. A truly effective project brief aligns strategy, technical expectations, timelines, budget, and deliverables — all in one clear, structured, and collaborative file.

In this article, you’ll learn exactly how to write a project brief that works — for your team, your developers, your designers, and your stakeholders. This is the method we use at DevUps with our clients across digital transformation projects.

📌 Initiating a web or technology project? Contact DevUps to begin with a solid project framework

1. What is a project brief?

A project brief is a foundational document that outlines the scope, goals, constraints, and success criteria for a project. It’s often the bridge between an idea and execution.

It’s used to:

• Clarify what needs to be done and why
• Align internal and external teams
• Define deliverables, milestones, and timelines
• Set expectations around budget and technical limits

Skipping the brief or doing it halfway leads to:

• Misaligned priorities
• Delayed timelines
• Scope creep
• Missed expectations
• Burned-out teams

💡 If your project involves multiple vendors, developers, or decision-makers, a strong brief is your insurance policy.

📘 Related post : Digital transformation roadmap in 5 proven steps

3. Les éléments indispensables d’un bon cahier des charges

Voici les sections à intégrer, dans une spécification projet structurée :

3. What to include in a complete project brief

Here’s what every effective project brief should contain:

3.1 Project context and goals

Start with the “why.”

• Who are you as a business?
• What problem is this project solving?
• What will success look like?

Example:

The goal is to launch a mobile-first B2C e-commerce platform that increases conversion by 40% in the next 6 months.

3.2 Stakeholders and communication

Map out:

• Who is involved
• Who approves what
• Communication channels (Slack, email, weekly reviews)

🎯 Including a well-structured RACI chart in your specifications document can help ensure smooth and efficient collaboration.

Detail:

• Expected features (forms, dashboards, filters, payments)
• Tech stack or tools to use
• Any limitations (security, legal, data)

3.4 Deliverables and milestones

Structure the delivery:

• Break down into phases (UX, UI, development, testing, go-live)
• Assign timeline estimates to each
• Define review points

📌 Don’t forget to clarify what “done” means for each phase.

3.5 Budget and resources in your project brief

Even a rough estimate helps the team calibrate what’s realistic.

Include:

• Estimated budget (total or by phase)
• Internal team availability
• Billing preferences, licensing, or external fees

At DevUps, we assist you in structuring this document, whether your budget is limited or scalable.

Want help scoping your budget smartly? See how DevUps structures modular projects

4. Common mistakes to avoid in a project brief

Here’s what we’ve seen kill momentum before projects even start:

• Being too vague (“modern and intuitive website”)
• Forgetting technical limitations or compliance (GDPR, accessibility)
• Leaving out key voices early on
• Writing a brief that’s too rigid
• Not prioritizing user experience

5. How DevUps helps you structure the perfect project brief

Our process isn’t just about writing documents. It’s about turning your strategy into a roadmap that’s actually executable.

Here’s what we do:

1. Discovery workshops with your team
2. Roadmap planning by sprint or feature group
3. Functional specs and user stories
4. UX flows, wireframes, and content architecture
5. Shared tracking via Notion or Trello

💡 We transform this scoping phase into a powerful driver of alignment and operational excellence.

Conclusion

A clear and complete project brief is the difference between chaos and clarity, between wasted time and momentum. It gives your team alignment, your partners direction, and your stakeholders confidence.

If you don’t know where to begin — we do.Talk to our experts at DevUps