What does "traceability" allow a requirements analyst to do?

Traceability is a critical concept in requirements management that enables a requirements analyst to establish connections between business requirements and related artifacts throughout the project life cycle. By linking requirements to various documents, design components, tests, and other relevant elements, traceability facilitates the verification and validation of requirements, ensuring that they are properly implemented and fulfilled.

This linkage allows analysts to easily identify how requirements evolve and change over time, maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the project's impact. It supports effective communication among stakeholders by providing clarity on the origins and implications of each requirement, which is vital for ensuring that the final product aligns with business objectives.

While tracking project budget changes, viewing stakeholder satisfaction, and assessing team member performance are important aspects of project management, they do not directly relate to the primary function of traceability within the context of requirements life cycle management. Thus, the ability to link business requirements to related artifacts stands out as the essence of what traceability provides to a requirements analyst.