Stakeholder review and alignment

After internal peer reviews and user validation, the specification needs a final alignment check with stakeholders. This stage is less about polishing the document’s clarity and more about confirming that its contents match broader business and technical goals. Product leads, engineers, designers, and other decision-makers come together to agree on what will move forward, what will wait, and what might need scope adjustments.

During this review, teams walk through each major section, especially features, timelines, and dependencies, and discuss trade-offs. For example, if a validated feature increases development time, stakeholders may decide to postpone it or release it later. The goal is to reach consensus so that everyone knows exactly what is being approved for the next phase. Recording key decisions directly in the document ensures visibility and accountability for all involved.

This step transforms the specification from a working draft into an agreed roadmap for development. Once approved, it becomes the shared reference point for execution.