COEPD – Center of Excellence for Professional Development Happy Learning
A Requirement Traceability Matrix (RTM) is a document that maps and traces user requirements with the system’s functionality and design. It is a tool that helps ensure that all requirements are being met throughout the software development lifecycle. The purpose of an RTM is to provide a framework that links requirements to the design, development, and testing phases of the project.
The RTM is created during the initial phase of a project and is updated throughout the software development lifecycle. The document contains a list of all the requirements that are necessary for the project and provides a traceability link between each requirement and its respective design, development, and testing artifacts.
The RTM serves several purposes, including:
Requirement Validation: The RTM helps to validate the requirements by ensuring that all requirements are testable and have been incorporated into the design and development of the system.
Change Management: The RTM helps to manage changes in requirements by providing a framework for assessing the impact of changes on the system’s design, development, and testing. Changes can be made to the RTM to reflect any changes in the requirements or the system design.
Risk Management: The RTM helps to manage risks by providing a clear view of the system’s requirements and their relationship with the design, development, and testing phases. It ensures that all the requirements are implemented, which in turn reduces the risk of system failure.
Quality Assurance: The RTM helps to ensure the quality of the system by providing a traceability link between the requirements and their implementation. It helps to identify any gaps or inconsistencies between the requirements and the design and development of the system.
Compliance: The RTM helps to ensure compliance with regulatory standards by providing a documented record of the requirements and their implementation. This ensures that the system is designed, developed, and tested in accordance with the regulatory standards.
In summary, the RTM is a critical tool that helps ensure the success of a project by providing a framework for linking requirements to the design, development, and testing phases. It helps to validate requirements, manage changes, manage risks, ensure quality, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards
