Traceability – A vision for now and tomorrow

Traceability has been addressed in the past from the perspective of relationships between the digital artifacts within the data and the information model of the system of interest (SoI) being developed. This paper enhances this view from a project management (PM), systems engineering (SE), and a configuration management (CM) perspective. The paper discusses what traceability is today and how it can help PM and SE practitioners meet future needs to realize the INCOSE Vision 2035 and satisfy all needs and requirements baselined for a SoI, including compliance with standards and regulations. Provenance and pedigree are two aspects discussed of how traceability enhances the management of digital artifacts from a CM point of view. This paper provides a vision of how traceability can aid PM and SE practitioners to develop quality products that deliver what is needed, within cost and schedule, with the needed quality.