What is true regarding the cost of fixing a fault?

The cost of fixing a fault increases as the product approaches live use because the later a fault is discovered in the development process, the more resources and effort it typically requires to rectify it. When identified early in the software development lifecycle, faults can be addressed with fewer resources, minimal reworking, and less impact on the overall project timeline and costs.

As the product nears live deployment, fixing faults can involve more extensive changes, such as redesigning components or redoing significant testing. This is due to the interdependencies within the system and the necessity to ensure that any fix does not introduce new issues. Additionally, late-stage fixes might require additional coordination with stakeholders, updates to documentation, and more intensive regression testing. Thus, recognizing that the cost of addressing issues escalates as the release date approaches is crucial for effective project planning and management.