Requirements Verification and Validation

Requirements Verification and Validation are critical processes in the Requirements Analysis and Documentation phase that ensure requirements are correctly defined and meet stakeholders' needs. Verification is the process of evaluating work products to determine whether they meet the specified requirements at each stage of the development lifecycle. It answers the question, "Are we building the product right?" Verification involves reviewing documents, plans, code, and specifications to confirm they conform to standards and are internally consistent. Validation, on the other hand, is the process of evaluating the final product to check whether it meets the business needs and requirements established at the project's inception. It answers the question, "Are we building the right product?" Validation involves testing and evaluating the final product or system to ensure it fulfills its intended use in the operational environment. Together, Verification and Validation (V&V) help identify defects early in the development process, reducing costs and time associated with rework. They ensure that requirements are complete, unambiguous, testable, and aligned with business objectives. Techniques used in V&V include reviews, inspections, walkthroughs, prototype demonstrations, and acceptance testing. In the context of PMI's Business Analysis, effective V&V practices contribute to project success by ensuring that requirements are correctly implemented and that the delivered solution satisfies stakeholders' needs. Business analysts play a crucial role in facilitating V&V activities, collaborating with stakeholders to confirm that requirements accurately reflect their needs, and working with the development team to ensure adherence to those requirements.