What is one essential characteristic that requirements should possess for effective maintenance and reuse?

For requirements to be effective for maintenance and reuse, they must possess the characteristic of consistent representation. This means that the way requirements are expressed should be uniform across all documentation and contexts. Consistency helps ensure that stakeholders can easily understand, compare, and implement requirements without confusion. It also facilitates tracking changes and managing requirements over time, as similar requirements will follow the same structure and terminology.

When requirements are consistently represented, it reduces the risk of misinterpretation and errors, making the process of updating or reusing them much more straightforward. This consistent approach aids in creating a common understanding among team members and stakeholders, which is crucial for successful project outcomes.

In contrast, options that imply complexity or redundancy, such as the use of complex language or unnecessary duplication, can hinder the clarity of requirements. Additionally, maintaining confidentiality may be important in certain contexts but does not directly contribute to the effectiveness of requirements for maintenance and reuse.