Which of the following is an advantage of maintaining requirements traceability?

Maintaining requirements traceability provides enhanced accountability throughout the project lifecycle. This advantage stems from the clear association of requirements with their origins, stakeholders, and the related deliverables. When requirements are traceable, it becomes easier to identify who is responsible for what satisfies these requirements, ensuring that stakeholders can be held accountable for their contributions and decisions related to the requirements. This accountability is vital for maintaining the integrity of the project as it progresses.

Traceability also allows for better change management, as any modifications to requirements can be traced back to their source, making it easier to assess the impact of changes. Ensuring that everyone involved in the project understands their responsibilities and how their work affects the overall objectives promotes structured collaboration and reduces confusion.

On the other hand, while decreased stakeholder involvement may seem beneficial in some contexts, it often leads to missed requirements and poor alignment with business objectives. Reducing project duration is usually a byproduct of improved processes and communication, but it is not a direct advantage of traceability itself. Finally, eliminating risk entirely is not feasible in project management; rather, traceability helps in identifying and managing risks more effectively, but it does not eliminate them altogether. Thus, enhanced accountability stands out as the primary advantage of maintaining requirements traceability.