What are the consequences of correcting defects discovered later in the development cycle?

Correcting defects discovered later in the development cycle typically leads to increased costs. This is primarily due to several factors that compound over time.

When a defect is identified early in the process, it can be addressed with minimal disruption to the overall project. For instance, if a requirement is flawed and caught during the requirements phase, the necessary changes can be made with relatively low costs because only a small portion of the project may be affected. However, as development progresses, the implications of fixing defects grow.

By the time defects are found during the testing phase or even later, the adjustments required can involve more extensive rework. This can include not only the original code but also additional related components that rely on that defect. Additionally, fixing a defect later often leads to more significant delays, which can impact the project timeline, further escalating costs associated with development resources, testing, and potentially re-training team members on altered components.

In essence, the later a defect is discovered, the more integrated it is into the system, and that integration makes correction more complex and costly. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the escalating costs associated with late-stage defect correction.