Patent ID: 7490319

Claim:
A method for testing a complex software system, wherein the complex software system has interrelated system programs, the method comprising the steps of: determining linkages between interrelated system programs using an automated multidimensional traceability matrix; identifying a change in one or more of the interrelated system programs; applying the automated multidimensional traceability matrix by using a graphical user interface that graphically displays information pertaining to a selected test scenario pertaining to the identified change, wherein the graphical user interface is adapted to display other test scenarios linked by two or more levels through at least one of dependencies and tributaries and wherein the graphical user interface is adapted to display linkages across three or more levels of dependency; executing one or more test scenarios associated with the interrelated system programs that may be affected by the change; and evaluating the results of the executed test scenarios, wherein the results include at least one of a list of dependencies and tributaries for the identified interrelated system programs and a list of test scenarios that invoke the identified interrelated system programs.