The original document is not changed and can be saved in Word format. This database can be queried on any combination of attributes, and a report can be easily generated. The attributes of requirements must be user defined to match organizational preferences. Some organizations may want to start with just a few attributes and add more as the organization matures. Attributes can be text, integer numbers or values selected from a pick list.
Attributes are also customizable for each type of document.
Maintaining Requirements and Traceability Another activity related to requirements management is change control. Historically, this process was managed using a manual traceability matrix. The traceability matrix lists requirements from a specification along one axis and the requirements from a related specification on another axis. When one requirement is related to another, a check mark is placed at the intersection. Even for a small project, it is quite easy to have 100 or more requirements in the Software Requirements Specification alone.