When a defect is discovered during the test phase, the earliest phase in the software lifecycle that could need rework to resolve the defect is often the requirements phase because:
* Root Cause Analysis: Many defects originate from misunderstandings or errors in the initial
* requirements. If the requirements are incorrect or incomplete, it will affect all subsequent phases.
* Impact on Design and Implementation: Incorrect requirements lead to flawed design and implementation, necessitating rework in these phases as well.
* Cost of Fixing Defects: The cost and effort to fix defects increase exponentially the later they are found in the development lifecycle. Addressing issues at the requirements stage is more cost-effective.