Final answer:
The purpose of the requirements validation process is to ensure that a product meets both its formal specifications and functional requirements. It involves checking designs against defined constraints and criteria to verify they are suitable for the intended use.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the requirements validation process is to determine whether the product of some development activity meets its requirements. This involves ensuring that a product not only meets its formal specifications but also fulfills its intended use in the operable environment. It's not just about doing things correctly, but doing the correct things for the users and stakeholders. The process includes various activities such as evaluation of specifications for correctness, checking of design elements for consistency, and validation of a prototype to ensure it meets the necessary criteria and constraints laid out during the initial phases of the design process.
During the requirements validation process, constraints and criteria play a crucial role. Constraints are the non-negotiable conditions that a design must meet, while criteria are the measurable values that allow different designs to be compared. If a prototype or design is found to be lacking or not meeting criteria or constraints, the design process can revert to a more concept generation stage leading to the selection of an alternative concept. This ensures that the design effectively solves the identified problem.