Why is it critical to have documented requirements?

Documented requirements play a vital role in ensuring that the requirements can be adequately covered by test cases, which is crucial for effective software testing. When requirements are well-documented, they provide a clear and precise foundation for what is to be developed. This clarity allows for the creation of test cases that are aligned directly with the documented needs and expectations of stakeholders.

Having clear documentation helps both developers and testers understand the scope and intent of each requirement, facilitating the development of comprehensive test scenarios that effectively validate whether the delivered product meets the initial expectations. If requirements are not documented properly, there is a significant risk of misunderstandings or omissions, which can lead to gaps in testing and, ultimately, unsatisfactory deliverables.

While the other options might have their own relevance within a project context—such as marketing strategies, stakeholder involvement, or project management simplification—they do not capture the core importance of documented requirements as directly linked to the validation of the specified functionalities through testing. Thus, focusing on the alignment of requirements with test cases highlights why proper documentation is essential in the overall quality assurance process.