How is a poor requirement best described?

A poor requirement is best described as one that does not effectively communicate the desired behavior. This means that the requirement lacks clarity and precision, making it difficult for stakeholders, developers, and testers to understand what is expected. When requirements fail to convey clear intentions, it leads to misinterpretation, development mistakes, and ultimately, software that does not meet user needs.

Effective requirements should provide a comprehensive representation of what the system is supposed to do, including details on performance, functionality, quality standards, and constraints. If a requirement falls short in any of these areas, it fails to serve its purpose, resulting in confusion and potential project delays.

While vagueness, being incorrect, and incompleteness are also characteristics of poor requirements, they are not as encompassing as the inability to communicate the desired behavior effectively. A vague requirement might not provide enough detail; an incorrect one may lead to the wrong implementation, and an incomplete requirement might miss certain functionalities. However, the critical issue is that if a requirement fails to communicate the intended behavior, all other aspects are compromised, leading to broader challenges in project execution.