CAPM Practice: Validate requirements through product delivery

Requirements error cost escalates dramatically through the project lifecycle. Catching a requirements error in analysis costs ~$1 to fix; in development ~$6; in testing ~$15; in production ~$100 or more (Boehm's cost escalation rule). Continuous validation catches errors at the cheapest point to fix them.

**Why not A:** Continuous validation benefits all projects, not just high-risk ones. Even low-risk projects can experience requirements drift, miscommunication, or changing business conditions. Waiting until the end to validate on any project increases the likelihood of costly rework regardless of the initial risk profile.

**Why not B:** End-of-project validation is not equally effective at a lower cost. Discovering misalignments late in the project lifecycle leads to expensive rework, as changes must propagate through design, development, and testing. The cost of fixing defects increases exponentially the later they are found.

**Why not D:** Continuous validation is a widely recognized best practice with clear practical benefits, not merely a compliance exercise for PMI guidelines. It reduces rework, improves stakeholder satisfaction, and increases the likelihood of delivering a solution that meets actual business needs. The value is demonstrated in practice, not just prescribed by standards bodies.