Latent Defects

Definition

The correctness quality subfactor, latent defects, that is the degree to which a work product and its outputs are free from defects upon delivery.

Measurement

Latent defects is typically measured in terms of:

• Estimated defects
• Known defects identified by testing
• Failed tests

Requirements

See latent defects requirements.

Mechanisms

Typical mechanisms for decreasing latent defects include:

• TBD

Guidelines

The following guidelines have been found to be useful when producing latent defect requirements:

• Whereas everyone would love for their work products to be without defects, the reality is that any nontrivial work product typically contains some defects and it typically costs more per defect to remove the last remaining defects than those that are initially discovered and removed. Thus, there is rarely neither time nor resources to remove all defects. Instead, one specifies latent defect in terms of the maximum number and type of latent defects that can exist and still release the work product (e.g., application) to its users.