Legal style in specifications

Based on research into development contract practices and the interpretation of the verb shall, recommendations are made for the use of legal style in engineering design specifications. Choice of style formality affects a contracting party's negotiating position in the event of disputes and also the communication effectiveness of the specification. Factors to be considered in the choice include marketplace norms, influenced by buyer-seller relations; organizational norms, influenced by the nature of the organization and the levels of technology and complexity of its products; and specification writer norms, influenced by previous experience and notions of professionalism. Recommendations are made both for engineering managers and communication teachers.