A Guide on Requirements Traceability Matrix Template

When you want to deploy an error-free and high-quality application, the QA team must thoroughly go through the client application to verify whether it satisfies the client’s requirements. To achieve this, they test that project’s requirements are met by using various scenarios and test cases, ensuring comprehensive coverage. The challenge lies in guaranteeing that no requirement is left untested. 

Requirement Traceability Matrix is a simple yet effective solution and it serves as a roadmap, mapping requirements to related test scenarios and cases. You can simplify this process with a requirements traceability matrix template or traceability matrix template (RTM template).

Why Do You Need a Requirements Traceability Matrix Template?

The requirement traceability matrix provides visibility across software development stages, enhancing QA’s ability to create comprehensive positive and negative test cases. 

• Ensures that your project’s requirements align perfectly with your test cases, preventing gaps or discrepancies.
• Improves test coverage, reducing the risk of missing critical scenarios during testing.
• Facilitates clear and efficient communication between cross-functional teams, preventing misunderstandings.
• Simplifies compliance with industry standards and regulations, ensuring that all requirements are met.
• Enhances traceability, making it easier to track changes and project progress.

When to Use a Requirements Traceability Matrix Template

Project Initiation and Planning: This can be started by using the requirements traceability matrix template right from the project’s inception. It helps in understanding and organizing initial requirements, ensuring alignment with project goals and stakeholder expectations.

Throughout Development and Testing Phases: You can continuously employ the requirement traceability matrix as requirements evolve and new features or feature improvements are added. It ensures that all changes are tracked, and the testing process stays aligned with the evolving project scope.

When Implementing Test Automation: The requirement traceability matrix helps in linking test scripts to specific requirements. It streamlines automation efforts, making it easier to maintain scripts and validate that they cover all essential requirements.

For Tracking Changes and Ensuring Consistency: The traceability matrix template can be used whenever requirements change or new ones emerge, the RTM Template allows teams to assess the impact, update related test cases, and maintain consistency in testing efforts.

In Audits and Compliance Checks: The RTM Template serves as valuable documentation for audits and compliance checks, providing a clear record of how requirements are met and tested, which is especially critical in regulated industries such as healthcare, aviation, financial services, etc.

How To Create a Requirements Traceability Matrix Template

Here are the steps to create a requirement traceability matrix template.

Step 01 – Gather Requirements

Begin by collecting all project requirements, which may include business requirements, functional specifications, user stories, and any other relevant documentation. These requirements serve as the foundation for your requirement traceability matrix. Ensure that each requirement is uniquely identifiable and well-documented, including its source and any associated details.

Step 02 – Define Test Cases

Next, you’ll need to create detailed test cases that correspond to each requirement. These test cases should be comprehensive, outlining the conditions, inputs, expected results, and steps required to validate the requirement. Test cases help ensure that every aspect of a requirement is thoroughly tested.

Step 03 – Identify Relationships

In this step, establish clear relationships between the requirements and the associated test cases. Each requirement should be linked to one or more test cases, indicating which tests are designed to validate it. This linkage is at the core of traceability, allowing you to track the status of each requirement during the project development lifecycle.

Step 04 – Document Traceability

Create a structured matrix or table to document these relationships. The matrix typically consists of rows representing requirements and columns representing test cases. As you fill in the matrix, mark the intersections where a requirement aligns with a test case. Additionally, include columns for notes, comments, or status updates to capture any changes or additional information related to each requirement or test case.

Step 05 – Review and Maintain

Regularly review and update the traceability matrix template throughout the project. As requirements evolve or change, ensure that the matrix reflects these modifications. Additionally, keep track of the test execution status, marking which test cases have been executed and their outcomes. This ongoing maintenance ensures that your requirement traceability matrix remains a reliable resource for tracking the project’s progress and compliance with requirements.

RTM and test automation Examples 

In the context of test automation, a requirements traceability matrix template plays an important role in ensuring that automated tests align with project requirements. Consider an example with a travel booking website. 

Case Explanation

The first step is to gather requirements. This includes specifying users should receive booking confirmation emails. 

For test automation, specific test cases are defined to validate these requirements automatically, such as automating the process of booking a flight and verifying that a confirmation email is sent. The requirement traceability matrix establishes a clear link between the “Booking Confirmation Email” requirement and the corresponding automated test case. 

As the automated tests are executed, the traceability matrix template tracks their progress, ensuring that each requirement is tested as intended and enhancing traceability. 

Requirement ID	Requirement Description	Automated Test Case ID
REQ-001	Users should receive confirmation emails after booking a flight.	TC-001
REQ-002	The website must be mobile-responsive for a seamless user experience.	TC-002

Additionally, if a new requirement emerges, like ensuring the website is mobile-responsive, the requirement traceability matrix allows for the creation of new automated test cases and their association with the relevant requirements. This systematic approach ensures comprehensive test coverage, reduces the risk of overlooking important requirements, and speeds up the test automation process.

RTM in Manual Testing

In this example, the requirement traceability matrix ensures that manual test cases are linked to the corresponding requirements, allowing testers to validate that the application meets the specified criteria. It provides a clear roadmap for test execution, enhances traceability, and aids in tracking testing progress.

Case Explanation

Consider an example of a fund transfer between user accounts. The first step is to gather requirements, such as the need for users to transfer funds between their accounts. Then, you need to define the test cases, outlining the precise steps for manually validating these requirements. The requirement traceability matrix establishes clear links between requirements and test cases. 

Requirement ID	Requirement Description	Manual Test Case ID
REQ-001	Users must transfer funds between their accounts.	TC-001
REQ-002	Transfer funds from the checking to the savings account.	TC-002
REQ-003	Transfer funds from savings to checking account.	TC-003
REQ-004	Verify the transfer limit for a single transaction.	TC-004
REQ-005	Confirm funds reflect accurately after transfer.	TC-005

Throughout testing, the requirement traceability matrix is a live document, recording test execution results and accommodating changes or additions to requirements and test cases. 

Using the Same RTM While Automating With Testsigma

Using the same requirements traceability matrix template while automating tests with Testsigma, can greatly enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your automation testing efforts. 

To use the same requirements traceability matrix template for automation testing with Testsigma, you can create a test suite in Testsigma and map each test case in the suite to a requirement in the requirements traceability matrix template. Here’s an explanation for the same:

Create a test suite 

To create a test suite in Testsigma, go to the “Test Suites” page and click the “Create Test Suite” button. In the “Create Test Suite” dialog box, enter a name for the test suite and click the “Create” button.

Test Script Creation

With Testsigma, you can create human-readable automated test scripts, making them accessible to both technical and non-technical team members. These test scripts can be easily linked to specific test cases in your requirement traceability matrix template, maintaining the traceability.

To create a new test case for a requirement, go to the “Test Cases” page and click the “Create Test Case” button. In the “Create Test Case” dialog box, enter the name of the test case, the requirement that it is testing, and the steps that need to be performed to test the requirement.

Test Execution

Testsigma can provide a robust test execution environment, allowing you to execute automated tests across various browsers and devices. As the tests run, Testsigma automatically updates the execution status, ensuring that your RTM template reflects the most current test results. 

Reporting and Traceability

Testsigma generates detailed test execution reports, including pass/fail status and any defects discovered. These reports are linked back to the corresponding requirements in your traceability matrix template, providing clear traceability from test results to project requirements.

Maintenance

When requirements change or new ones are introduced, Testsigma allows for easy updates in your requirement traceability matrix. You can add new requirements, modify existing ones, and create new automated test cases to address these changes, all while maintaining the links between requirements and test cases.

By using Testsigma with your requirements traceability matrix template you can streamline the entire automation testing process. It ensures that your automated tests align with project requirements, simplifies test creation, provides comprehensive reporting, and enables efficient maintenance as your project evolves. This enhances collaboration between technical and non-technical team members and ultimately contributes to the overall quality and reliability of your software product.

Automate your tests for web, mobile, desktop applications and APIs, and map them to requirements with Testsigma

Summary

A Requirements Traceability Matrix Template is an important asset in ensuring the successful deployment of error-free software applications. The QA team’s mission is to analyze client requirements, employing various scenarios and test cases to ensure comprehensive coverage. However, the challenge lies in guaranteeing that no requirement goes untested. 

The Requirements Traceability Matrix Template has become an efficient solution, serving as a roadmap that intricately maps requirements to relevant test scenarios and cases. With the help of a requirements traceability matrix template, QA teams can create a clear and organized path, ensuring that every aspect of the software aligns with client expectations, ultimately leading to the delivery of an error-free application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who Prepares the Requirements Traceability Matrix Template?

Requirements traceability matrix template is typically prepared by test engineers, SDETs, or QA managers who oversee testing processes.

What are the Components of a Requirements Traceability Matrix Template?

An RTM typically includes columns for requirements, test cases, and their relationship status. It may also incorporate additional columns for version control and comments.