Software Quality Assurance Practice Exam

True or False: Studies indicate that defects found and fixed in the requirements phase have the highest cost.

1. True

2. False

The correct answer is: False

The assertion that defects found and fixed in the requirements phase have the highest cost is false. In fact, early detection of defects in the requirements phase generally leads to lower costs than defects found later in the software development lifecycle. The earlier a defect is discovered, the less expensive it is to fix because it can often be corrected with modifications to documentation or requirements rather than having to make changes at later stages, such as design or coding, where fixing the defect can involve significant rework, retesting, and possible impacts on timelines and budgets. Defects detected in later phases, such as during testing or after deployment, tend to incur higher costs due to the intricate interdependencies in the system that may not be immediately clear. This highlights the importance of thorough requirements gathering and validation to minimize issues arising in subsequent phases, ultimately leading to cost-efficiency and reliability in the software development process.