What is the purpose of validation in a product or service development context?

In the context of product or service development, the purpose of validation primarily revolves around confirming that the needs and requirements of stakeholders are satisfied. This process involves evaluating whether the developed product or service meets the intended specifications and user requirements before it is finalized.

Validation ensures that the final outcome aligns with what was initially promised or intended to the users or customers. This can include verifying that the product solves the problem it was designed to address and fulfills the expectations outlined during the development phase.

While assessing customer satisfaction, ensuring regulatory compliance, and identifying defects are important components of the overall quality assurance processes, they fall under different aspects of product or service management. Assessment of customer satisfaction focuses on how actual users feel post-delivery, regulatory compliance checks ensure adherence to laws and standards, and defect identification usually pertains to quality control during production or testing. Validation, however, is specifically about confirming that the product or service indeed meets the necessary criteria outlined prior to its launch, solidifying its readiness for the market.