Performing impact analysis

Perform an impact analysis to view items related to requirements and understand the impact of a requirement change before you make it.

1. Click the Traceability tab when you are viewing or editing a requirement.

2. Click Impact Analysis and select an impact type.

  • Forward Impact displays items directly and indirectly impacted if the requirement changes.
  • Backward Impact displays related items that may directly or indirectly affect the requirement if changed.

The impacted items are displayed.

Arrows in the Relation column can help you determine how items are related. A solid arrow indicates the items are linked. Linked items are only displayed if the link definition allows dependent items to be marked as suspect. A dashed arrow indicates the items are related in a document.

3. Select an item and click View Item to view it or Edit Item to edit it. Not available for automated test results.

4. Click OK to save any changes.

If you determine that changes impact items related to the requirement, you may want to mark the items as suspect. This adds a flag to the items to indicate they should be reviewed. See Marking items as suspect.