What is the purpose of the Requirement Traceability Matrix?

What is RTM (Requirement Traceability Matrix) – Basically, The Requirement Traceability Matrix or RTM, is an essential project management tool that provides a methodical way to track and monitor requirements from initiation to delivery. RTM have requirements or features given by client/stakeholder. The RTM used to track the given requirements-and prove that requirements have been satisfied/fulfilled.
A Requirement traceability matrix is a document that demonstrates the relationship between requirements and other artifacts. It is a document used to ensure that the requirements defined for a system are linked at every point during the verification process. It helps in tested with respect with test parameters and protocols. It’s used to prove that requirements have been satisfied. And its document like test, tests case and issues.

Types of Traceability Test Matrix
In Traceability Matrix there are major three types following are they:
• Forward traceability: This matrix is used to check whether your project progresses in the right direction and for the right product. It makes sure that each requirement is properly tested. Mapping from requirements to test cases.
• Backward or reverse traceability: It is used to ensure that the current requirement remains on the right track. This helps to avoid the scope creep of project. It create backward RTM by matching the test cases with the given requirement. Mapping test cases to requirements.
• Bi-directional traceability (Forward & Backward): This is a combination of both forward as well as backward traceability. This traceability matrix ensures that all requirements are covered by their each individual test case.

Following are the purpose of RTM using in project:
– The primary purpose of RTM is to keep track of the requirement, trace the shifts, its source and how the requirement will be delivered the project in specific time.
– RTM is used in every project for trace the project progress.
– It is beneficial in determining the project direction and timelines.
– It also helps your quality assurance team to understand what needs to be tested.
– It helps in making decision as per the trace requirement.
– It use in managing the projects.
– It is used every software to trace the requirement in proper manner.
– As we use the RTM for trace we are going to trace the requirement for project progress.
– It helps in reduce the risk of defects and missed objective.
– It helps project managers to identify and evaluate the risks before they become issues.

How to create the RTM
You can create the RTM in MS excel or you can use any specific tool for the same. To create the effective traceability matrix, some things must keep certain in mind, starting form defining the project goals and mentioning all the project’s essential aspects,
Following are the basic step, no matter which tool you are going to use.
– Define your goal – The first step is to ensure that the project goal is accurately defined. According to your project goal you will gather the requirement/information.
– Establish your artifacts (and their relationship) – When you gather information/Requirement according to your goal, objective now you establish the factor and their relation.
– Fill in the traceability matrix – last step in RTM is fill the traceability matrix according to their fulfillment.

In simple words we can say that, Requirement Traceability Matrix is a table (usually a spreadsheet) where you can link the test case to the requirement and vice-versa.
In one column you can place the requirement name and in the other, the name of the test case that testes the requirement.