Presentation about what is a Requirements Traceability Matrix.

1. What is an RTM?
By Maira Bay de Souza
This presentation is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License

2. Definition
A requirements traceability matrix
(RTM) is a table (usually a
spreadsheet) where you can link the
test cases to the requirements and
vice-versa.
In one column you place the
requirement name and in the other, the
name of the test case that tests the
requirement.

3. When should we use it?
An RTM is essential in large or complex
projects, with many requirements.
But a tester in a small project might also
find useful to create one just to help
them organize themselves.
I have done that in many of my own
projects.

4. More detailed RTMs
In medium to large projects, I have
worked with RTMs that also linked the
requirements to the high level design
items, to the detailed level design
items, to the high level test cases, to the
detail level test cases.

5. More detailed RTMs (contd.)
The amount of information in an RTM
will depend on the time we have to fill
the matrix (ie Schedule constraints),
the level of detail that the Project
Manager and/or Test Manager wants,
who is using the matrix (just test team
or test and development), what other
tools the team is already using, etc.

6. Tools
Several tools can replace an RTM.
I have worked in a very large project
where we used an MS Access database
to trace the requirements.
In the past few years, Test Director
(from HP) has implemented many
features that help trace the
requirements to the test cases.

7. Tools (contd.)
I have also used a combination of tools
for that same purpose (example:
Rational ClearQuest + Lotus Notes).
What tool will be used, in most cases
depends on the company policy.

8. Examples
See the Wikipedia article for an example
of a very simple RTM.
And this website for a more complex
RTM.

9. Questions and comments
If you have any questions about
RTM - or any other testing topic
for that matter - feel free to ask
me!
I also appreciate any feedback you
have about this presentation.

10. Questions and comments
If you have any questions about
RTM - or any other testing topic
for that matter - feel free to ask
me!
I also appreciate any feedback you
have about this presentation.