Defect Reporting

Definition

Defect Reporting

the common task during which producers report potential defects that probably exist in work products so that they can be fixed

Objectives

The typical objectives of defect reporting are to:

• Notify the producers of the work products that one or more potential defects probably exist in their work products.
• Improve the quality of the work products.

Preconditions

Defect reporting can typically begin when the following preconditions hold:

• One or more defects have been identified.
• People playing roles on the endeavor have been adequately trained (or has sufficient experience) in defect reporting.

Completion Criteria

Defect reporting is typically complete when the following postconditions hold:

• All defects have been identified.
• The producers of the work products have been notified of the potential defects that probably exist in their work products.

Steps

Defect reporting typically involves the following roles performing the following steps in an iterative, incremental, and parallel manner:

• Identify a defect in a work product.
• Document the defect on a defect report.
• Formally submit the defect report to the:
  • Producer of the work product if the work product is not yet baselined.
  • Change Control Board if the work product has been baselined.

Techniques

Defect reporting can typically be performed using the following techniques:

• Standardized forms.
• Electronic submission and tracking.

Work Products

Defect reporting typically results in the production of the following work products in an iterative, incremental, parallel, and time-boxed manner:

• Defect Report

Guidelines

• This task is typically ongoing during the duration of the associated endeavor.
• This task is deals with with requesting that a defect be fixed, whereas change requesting deals with requesting changes (e.g., improvements or modification rather than fixes).
• Defect reports need to be documented so that they can be evaluated and their progress tracted.