Whether the given requirement has been 'Baselined' or not is an oft heard word on software projects
A "baselined requirement" refers to a requirement that has undergone a formal approval process and has been established as a stable and agreed-upon reference point for a project or system. When a requirement is baselined, it means that it has been documented, reviewed, and approved by relevant stakeholders, and any subsequent changes to that requirement will need to go through a formal change management process.
Here are some key points to understand about baselined requirements:
- Documentation: Baselined requirements are typically documented in a requirement specification document. This document serves as a reference for all project stakeholders and contains detailed information about the requirement, such as its description, priority, acceptance criteria, and any dependencies.
- Approval: Before a requirement is baselined, it goes through a review and approval process. This process involves stakeholders, such as business analysts, project managers, and subject matter experts, who assess the requirement for completeness, correctness, and feasibility.
- Stability: Once a requirement is baselined, it is considered stable. This means that it should not be subject to frequent changes without a valid reason. Changes to baselined requirements typically require formal approval and impact analysis to assess how they may affect the project.
- Reference Point: Baselined requirements serve as a reference point for project planning, development, and testing. They help ensure that everyone involved in the project is working based on a common set of agreed-upon specifications.
- Change Management: If a change to a baselined requirement is necessary due to changing project needs or new insights, a formal change request process is typically initiated. This process assesses the impact of the proposed change on the project, and if approved, it results in an updated version of the requirement.
- Traceability: Baselined requirements are often used to establish traceability, which means connecting each requirement to the corresponding design, implementation, and testing activities. This ensures that all project components align with the established requirements.