What artifact maps requirements to deliverables and verifies coverage?

• A. Use Case Diagram
• B. Test Plan
• C. System Architecture
• D. Traceability Matrix

Answer: (D)

The concept being tested is how to ensure every requirement is tied to what delivers it and what verifies it. The traceability matrix is the tool that does this by linking each requirement to its corresponding deliverables and to the verification artifacts, such as tests or acceptance criteria. With this matrix, you can see at a glance which deliverables implement a given requirement and which tests confirm it, ensuring complete coverage and making it easier to spot gaps or impacts when changes occur. This is key for preventing requirements from slipping through the cracks and for managing scope across the project lifecycle.

The other artifacts serve different purposes: a use case diagram shows how users interact with the system, not how requirements map to outputs; a test plan outlines the testing approach but doesn’t cross-reference every requirement to deliverables and tests; and a system architecture describes the overall structure of the system, not the traceability of requirements to outputs. The traceability matrix uniquely provides that cross-reference and coverage verification.