Definition
Traceability is the evidence chain that connects observations to engineering outcomes: Observation → Discovery → Architectural Decision → Specification → Work Order → Implementation → Implementation Report → Architecture Review → Release. Every governed artifact identifies its upstream authority, and historical references are never rewritten.
Why It Matters
Traceability lets any accepted artifact be explained — why it exists, what evidence supports it, and what authority approved it. Without it, artifacts can only be evaluated in isolation; with it, they can be evaluated against the reasoning that actually produced them. Missing traceability is treated as a governance gap even when an artifact is otherwise correct.
Related Concepts
- Discovery
- Architecture Decision Record
- Governance
- Organizational Knowledge
References
- GV-0002 — Traceability Model
- OM-0006 — AAOE Meta-Model
- GV-0003 — Body of Knowledge Governance