Managing Requirements: Verification vs. Validation - Management Concepts (2024)

A common source of project failure over the past two decadeshas continued to be the management or mismanagement of project requirements.We are not going to discuss project failure, but only to show that a clear understanding of some of the management concepts for project requirements is crucial to the dismantling of this frightful statistic of poor performance. One such understanding is the difference between requirement verification and validation: a concept in its current state of confusion that in our experience continues to provide a level of misapplication of requirements, management techniques, and practices. This is especially true of Information Technology software-oriented projects.

The two major, but not only, processes to a successful IT project is the planning of the project and its execution. They are inexorably linked together for without sound planning, execution will be lacking in direction and focus; without sound execution, planning becomes a waste of time and resources. However, in the successful completion of any IT project, understanding the needs of the stakeholders is only part of the equation for success. The proper implementation of a feasible solution that can produce ‘fit-for-use’ deliverables able to provide for the stakeholders’ needs is also crucial to this success formulation. Thus, it is important to understand where verification and validation fits into these activities of an IT project.

First, it does not matter how the project is to be developed, using either a predictive or an adaptive style environment to understand the different perspectives and value of verification and validation. Secondly, the purposes of verification and validation while complimentary are focused on addressing different questions confronting the IT project manager and team. Finally, these processes provide checks on the planning and execution activities of the IT project ensuring that they have been appropriately implemented and completed.

What are these different questions that verification and validation address?

  • Verification seeks to answer the question: Are we building the right solution?
  • Validation seeks to answer the question: Are we building the solution right?

The first question therefore tries to discover if the stakeholders’ needs and business issueswill be met(resolved) if the IT project provides deliverables that meet the elicited or discovered stakeholder requirements. This is similar to the manner in which an architect using blueprints and models attempts to show their clients that the proposed solution will meet their needs, constraints, and utilization once it has been constructed according to plan. Thus verification processes occur prior to the completion of actual product (software, applications, and systems) and is thus a CHECK on the efficacy of the project team’s PLANNING efforts and actions.

Verification precedes the development (predictive or adaptive) of the solution component in an attempt to decide if the development activity is the correct action to take in order to provide the stakeholders with a desired and necessary feature and/or capability. Verification seeks to match need with plan or direction.

The second question thus seeks to determine if the stakeholders’ needs and business issueshave been metby the development of the actual IT component under production in either lifecycle environment. In order for this question to be answered, actual deliverables have to have been completed to a point of testing (unit, system, regression, performance, or user) where the efficacy of the project team’s EXECUTION is now able to be CHECKED.

Validation succeeds the development of the solution component in an attempt to determine if the development activity was correctly executed with the result of the produced deliverables are indeed ‘fit-for-use.’ Validation seeks to match the resolution of need with produced deliverable(s).

One final example, a non-IT one, may help to cement the differences between verification and validation. Think of parking your car at a shopping mall where free parking is provided to those that actually purchase something from one of the mall vendors. The verification of the activity is either calling or reading the requirements determined by the mall operator on how to obtain free parking. However, the validation only occurs AFTER one has parked their car, obtained a parking stub, made a qualifying purchase, had their parking stub stamped (validated), and then presented to the parking attendant for free parking resolution. Here, one cannot validate the process until after one has actually produced a ‘fit-for-use’ deliverable such a parking and purchasing. The same is in IT projects.

Verification is checking planning while validation is checking execution – it is that simple.

Thank you for joining me for this short diversion intoIT project managementand I trust you may be able to better utilize the verification and validation processes on your next project.

Managing Requirements: Verification vs. Validation - Management Concepts (2024)

FAQs

Managing Requirements: Verification vs. Validation - Management Concepts? ›

Verification is about checking whether the requirements are complete, correct, and consistent. Validation is about checking whether the system meets its objectives and functions as intended.

What is the difference between requirements verification and requirements validation? ›

Validation is the process of checking whether the specification captures the customer's requirements, while verification is the process of checking that the software meets specifications. Verification includes all the activities associated with the producing high quality software.

What are the validation and verification requirements techniques? ›

Validation and verification of project requirements can be done through a variety of methods and techniques, such as reviews, prototypes, and tests. A review is a formal or informal inspection of requirements by yourself, peers, stakeholders, or experts.

What is a validation and verification system requirement? ›

Verification and Validation (V&V) are independent procedures that are used together for checking that a product, service, or system meets requirements and specifications and that it fulfills its intended purpose. These are critical components of a quality management system such as ISO 9000.

What is validation vs verification in project management? ›

Where validation is the technique to evaluate the stages of the project, verification is the proof of compliance made by the project manager. This proof can be in the form of certification, or can be as simple as different area supervisors signing off on the phase of the project.

What are the five steps in the validation process? ›

There are five major steps in the validation process: (1) preparing to conduct validation, (2) conduct planned validation (perform validation), (3) analyze validation results, (4) prepare a validation report, and (5) capture the validation work products.

What is the difference between process verification and validation? ›

Process verification is generally approached from a systemic level while manufacturing process validation is applicable to the product's users. In that regard, a device maker's process verification should be concerned with confirming that specifications are correctly implemented by the system.

What are the 4 types of validation? ›

We commonly classify process validation based on the timing of its execution relative to the production schedule. According to this description, there are four distinct types of process validation: prospective validation, retrospective validation, concurrent validation, and revalidation.

What are the 4 phases of requirement validation? ›

Requirements validation occurs in various phases of requirements engineering like during requirements elicitation, requirements specification, requirements negotiation, requirements management.

What is the example of verification and validation? ›

An example of verification testing is unit testing. It checks whether individual components of the software meet their specifications. An example of validation testing is user acceptance testing. It tests whether the software meets end-users' needs.

What comes first, validation or verification? ›

Unlike verification testing, which happens throughout the development process, validation testing typically occurs at the end of a development phase or after the entire system is built. Its main goal is to confirm that the final product aligns with what stakeholders and customers wanted.

What are the methods of verification and validation? ›

A few verification methods are inspection, code review, desk-checking, and walkthroughs. A few widely-used validation methods are black box testing, white box testing, integration testing, and acceptance testing. The quality assurance (QA) team would be engaged in the verification process.

How do you validate requirements? ›

In the requirements validation process, we perform a different type of test to check the requirements mentioned in the Software Requirements Specification (SRS), these checks include: Completeness checks. Consistency checks. Validity checks.

What is the difference between requirement verification and validation? ›

Requirements verification is the process of making sure that the system requirements are complete and accurate. Validating requirements is checking to see if the documented needs match the expectations of the project's stakeholders. Validate: Confirms that a requirement meets the intent of the stakeholder.

How to remember validation vs verification? ›

The key differences between Verification and Validation are: Verification checks whether the product was built right. Validation checks whether the right product was built.

Which is better verification or validation? ›

Verification in API ensures that the API meets specified requirements and is correctly implemented. It focuses on checking code and functionality against design documents. Validation ensures the API fulfills its intended purpose and meets user needs, focusing on actual performance and real-world usage scenarios.

What is the meaning of requirement verification? ›

– Requirement Verification: the process of ensuring the requirement meets the rules and characteristics defined for writing a good requirement.

What is validation and verification with an example? ›

Difference between Validation and Verification
VerificationValidation
All static testing approaches are included.All dynamic testing procedures are included.
Reviews, inspections, and walkthroughs are just a few examples.All sorts of testing, such as smoke, regression, functional, systems, and UAT, are examples.
4 more rows
Dec 17, 2021

What is the difference between verification and validation of data? ›

Data verification involves checking the accuracy and completeness of data, while data validation involves ensuring that the data meets certain standards or criteria.

What is the difference between method validation and verification? ›

In conclusion, method validation is usually applied to an “in-house method” developed by a laboratory; while method verification is applied to a “compendia method or previously validated method” when it is being use in a particular laboratory for the first time.

Top Articles
No Sound on TikTok? Here are Common Reasons and Solutions
Blockchain in the Banking Sector: A Review of the Landscape and Opportunities
Hertz Car Rental Partnership | Uber
Horned Stone Skull Cozy Grove
Jet Ski Rental Conneaut Lake Pa
U.S. Nuclear Weapons Complex: Y-12 and Oak Ridge National Laboratory…
Hillside Funeral Home Washington Nc Obituaries
Curtains - Cheap Ready Made Curtains - Deconovo UK
Best Uf Sororities
Forum Phun Extra
Where Is The Nearest Popeyes
I Saysopensesame
Uta Kinesiology Advising
Dover Nh Power Outage
BMW K1600GT (2017-on) Review | Speed, Specs & Prices
Chase Bank Pensacola Fl
Winco Employee Handbook 2022
R. Kelly Net Worth 2024: The King Of R&B's Rise And Fall
Bn9 Weather Radar
Walmart Pharmacy Near Me Open
Nk 1399
R Baldurs Gate 3
Table To Formula Calculator
Abga Gestation Calculator
Publix Christmas Dinner 2022
Busted! 29 New Arrests in Portsmouth, Ohio – 03/27/22 Scioto County Mugshots
1475 Akron Way Forney Tx 75126
Red Sox Starting Pitcher Tonight
Advance Auto Parts Stock Price | AAP Stock Quote, News, and History | Markets Insider
Emiri's Adventures
Average weekly earnings in Great Britain
Cbs Trade Value Chart Week 10
Appleton Post Crescent Today's Obituaries
Why Holly Gibney Is One of TV's Best Protagonists
Soulstone Survivors Igg
Instafeet Login
Craigslist List Albuquerque: Your Ultimate Guide to Buying, Selling, and Finding Everything - First Republic Craigslist
Gold Dipping Vat Terraria
Best Restaurants Minocqua
'The Night Agent' Star Luciane Buchanan's Dating Life Is a Mystery
Arcanis Secret Santa
Sherwin Source Intranet
Accident On 40 East Today
Wood River, IL Homes for Sale & Real Estate
Clock Batteries Perhaps Crossword Clue
Msatlantathickdream
Cryptoquote Solver For Today
Craigslist Monterrey Ca
Competitive Comparison
Psalm 46 New International Version
Laurel Hubbard’s Olympic dream dies under the world’s gaze
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Aracelis Kilback

Last Updated:

Views: 6324

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Aracelis Kilback

Birthday: 1994-11-22

Address: Apt. 895 30151 Green Plain, Lake Mariela, RI 98141

Phone: +5992291857476

Job: Legal Officer

Hobby: LARPing, role-playing games, Slacklining, Reading, Inline skating, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Dance

Introduction: My name is Aracelis Kilback, I am a nice, gentle, agreeable, joyous, attractive, combative, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.