Using the requirements specification to infer the implicit test status of requirements

We investigate a method to infer the implicit test status of requirements and thus increase the number of requirements for which the test status is known. The general idea is to improve the data set for measuring the maturity of the system in the current release. The inference is based on the structuring mechanisms (hierarchy, types) which are typically used to document the (natural language) requirements specification. We present a case study in the context of the development process for Mercedes-Benz passenger cars at Daimler AG. The results of the case study indicate the usefulness of the structuring mechanisms in the requirements specification as the basis for the inference. In particular, the number of requirements for which the status is known could be increased by almost a third.