Requirements Traceability Matrix

The Requirements Traceability Matrix (RTM) is a document that tracks and identifies user requirements with test cases. RTM captures all requirements and provides traceability. The Requirements Traceability Matrix allows you to show the relationship between requirements, other artifacts. RTM is used for proving that all requirements have been met. It documents the client’s requirements, test results, and issues. Let’s now break it down and explain its purpose.
RTM contains several things.Requirement ID: Each requirement must have a unique ID that you can later compress into smaller pieces.
Description: Write a short description of your requirement. Be concise and use a title.
You need to be concise about your project objectives and business requirements.
The name of the person who requested the requirement: We recommend that you include the source of the requirement.
Connect requirement and WBS elements: The project team will use WBS element number in order to implement the requirement.
Link requirements to test case: Even RTM requires test cases that are list-related.
A requirements traceability matrix is used to identify the purpose of the project.
It could be said that RTM’s primary purpose is to monitor project requirements throughout a project’s lifetime. It’s also used to verify the status of ongoing requirements. This document links the project requirements from the beginning to the end. This document records all requirements, their source, and tracks how they will be delivered throughout the project.
Forward traceability. Forward traceability is used to link requirements and test cases. We will ensure that each requirement is thoroughly tested in this instance. You may need to adjust requirements if a customer needs to see progress. These adjustments will allow your team to keep up with the changes. Backward traceability. Backward traceability can be achieved by linking test cases to the requirements. This allows you to avoid scope creep. Also, backward traceability enables you clarity into the origin of each derived requirement.Bidirectional traceability. Bidirectional traceability, which combines the two previous options into one document, is also useful. This type is useful when you need to prove that each requirement has a related test case.
Set your goals. This is the first step in creating a traceability matrix. Decide why you want to make RTM. Collect artifacts. Determine which artifacts you want to include. Once you have defined artifacts, it is time to gather them. This involves locating the most current requirement documents. Create an RTM template. Once you have gathered your documents and defined them, you can create your template. Each artifact will require a column. To copy/paste requirements, you will need one column. Open your requirements document, and copy and paste your requirements IDs into column 1. Next, enter test case IDs in the second column. Copy/paste the test cases and their results. A test is a sign that the requirement has been met. You will need to continuously update the matrix. It takes some effort to create a requirement traceability map, but it is a full-time job to keep it up-to-date.