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INTERVIEW QUESTION:

Why is requirements traceability important?

Posted by Chris Adams

// 52030 Views // 2 Additional Answers & Comments

Categories: Business Analysis, Systems Analysis, Requirements Analysis (BABOK KA), Functional Specifications, Requirements Management and Communication (BABOK KA)

ANSWER

Requirements traceability is the ability to follow and audit the life of a requirement, in both a forward and backward direction; from its origins, through its realization in the design and functional specifications, to its eventual development and deployment and use, through subsequent rounds of modification and refinement.

If a requirement is changed or modified, using a requirements traceability matrix the analyst can identify those areas within the functional specifications that are impacted by the requirement and make the appropriate modifications. In addition, the analyst can determine if the portion of the specification being modified traces back to any other requirements. This is important to ensure that the new modification doesn’t break any existing requirements within the system.

Similarly, sections of the specification can be traced to areas of the physical code to ensure that all required changes are made during the development process. Test cases can also be traced back to functional specifications. When functional specifications are changed test cases nearly always need to be updated to ensure complete and accurate testing can take place.

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Chris Adams
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ADDITIONAL ANSWERS / COMMENTS

pmehta0801 posted on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 12:21 PM

Requirement Traceability matrix helps in tracking changes of the requirements.For every business requirement there is corresponding system requirement, functional and non functional requirement. It helps in identifying those areas in the functional or system requirements that will be affected by the change in the business requirement

AJ posted on Thursday, February 16, 2017 7:20 AM

Traceability also helps in managing the scope and in both the aspects. One, where it helps in identifying if any requirement is missed out from the development or from the testing coverage. The other way round, it also guards against adding functionality which may not have been required.

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