What increases with more requirements or formality in a project?

The increase in traceability efforts associated with more requirements or formality in a project stems from the need to ensure that all requirements are clearly linked to their respective origins, stakeholders, and eventual deliverables. As projects grow in complexity, with the introduction of additional requirements, the ability to trace each requirement back to business needs or stakeholder demands becomes crucial. This is essential for validating that the project meets its objectives and that any changes can be understood and managed effectively.

Traceability involves tracking requirements throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring that each one is addressed and fulfilled within the solution. Increased requirements necessitate a more robust traceability framework to manage the complexity and interdependencies effectively. Formality often brings structured processes and tools into play, enhancing the capability to monitor, report on, and verify all requirements.

Other aspects of project management, such as backlog management, organizational culture, and impact analysis, also play significant roles in project execution, but traceability stands out as a critical requirement when dealing with a robust set of documentation and formal procedures.