IT:AD:Requirements:HowTo:Regarding using the terms Normative and Informative
Summary
From time to time, the terms Normative and Informative can be found used within Requirements.
Conclusion: replace them with SHOULD in alignment with IT:AD:RFC 2119
Notes
Normative
Normative defines something as relating to an ideal standard or model, or being based on what is considered to be the normal or correct way of doing something.
Defining a Requirement as Normative does not make the Requirement an Obligation. It is therefore the equivalent of SHOULD.
As Requirements are legal statements from which ambiguity MUST be removed, it is recommended that the term Normative not be used, and SHOULD be used in its place.
Informative
A requirement document may contain Informative statements.
By definition, they are not Requirements, but – depending on their contents – they could be IT:AD:Constraints.
MAY be a valid location to use the term WILL.