I define a defect as an imperfection or deficiency in a work product that impairs its intended use. In other words, a defect lowers the quality or usefulness of a requirement, model, design, or product. Synonyms include bug and fault. First, I look for defects early. Second, I treat them as signals about process gaps. Third, I use them to improve requirements and validation.
For requirements, defects often mean that validation failed. Therefore, I monitor defects that appear during development and in operation. If I see recurring defects, I analyze root causes. Consequently, I adjust the requirements validation process. Moreover, I keep records of defects. In addition, I classify defects by type, severity, and origin. For example, I note whether a defect stems from ambiguity, omission, incorrect assumption, or wrong stakeholder input.
I involve the correct stakeholders when I validate requirements. First, I invite people who provide the input. Next, I invite those who will use the output. Also, I include peers and subject matter experts. However, I pay attention to independence. A low level of independence is cheap and fast. On the other hand, it may miss defects due to blind spots or conflicting interests. Therefore, I often invite external reviewers or auditors when the project has high risk. As a result, I find more severe defects early.
I separate the identification of defects from their correction. First, I let validators concentrate on finding defects. Then, I gather the defects in one list. Next, I analyze interactions between defects. Finally, I decide which defects to fix and when. For example, I avoid fixing a minor inconsistency immediately if fixing it might conflict with a later, more important correction. Thus, I save time and effort.
I validate requirements from different views. For instance, I collect input from business, users, developers, testers, operators, and application managers. Also, I include specialists on performance, security, and usability when needed. As a result, I obtain interdisciplinary feedback. Therefore, I reduce the chance of missing defects that matter in practice.
I practice repeated validation. In iterative projects, I validate often and adjust quickly. In sequential projects, I validate thoroughly at key milestones. Meanwhile, I track defects over time. Consequently, I learn patterns and prevent recurrence.
I monitor and analyze defects continuously. First, I log detected defects. Then, I perform root cause analysis. Moreover, I measure trends and fix process weaknesses. As a Requirements Engineer, I actively look for opportunities to improve validation. Thus, I reduce downstream waste and increase stakeholder satisfaction.
Finally, I treat defects as a normal part of development. However, I do not accept them as inevitable. Instead, I use them to sharpen requirements. Therefore, I improve quality, reduce rework, and deliver value.