What is defined as a characteristic or feature that must be included in an information system?

A characteristic or feature that must be included in an information system is known as a system requirement. In the context of systems analysis and design, system requirements are essential because they outline what the system needs to achieve in order to fulfill the needs of stakeholders. These requirements can be categorized into various types, including functional requirements, which describe what the system should do, and non-functional requirements, which detail how the system performs its functions (like reliability, usability, and performance).

Understanding system requirements is crucial for the development process because they guide the design, development, implementation, and testing stages of the system lifecycle. Accurately capturing and documenting these requirements helps ensure that the final product meets user expectations and business goals.

User stories, while useful for capturing user requirements in an agile environment, are not formal requirements themselves but rather a narrative tool to describe features from the user's perspective. System features refer to specific attributes of the system that may not necessarily align with the formal requirements needed for validation. Functional specifications are detailed descriptions of the system's functionalities, derived from requirements, but they do not represent the requirements themselves. Hence, system requirement is the most accurate term to define the essential characteristics that must be included in the information system.