CAPM Business Analysis Frameworks Practice Question
A business analyst is preparing a requirements traceability matrix (RTM) for a regulatory compliance project. The project manager asks how the RTM will help when a new regulation is introduced late in the project. What is the primary benefit of maintaining the RTM in this situation?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse the RTM's traceability role with cost estimating, scheduling, or approval authority, none of which are functions it performs.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
It identifies which requirements, deliverables, and test cases are affected by the new regulation.
The RTM's core value is bidirectional traceability: it links requirements to their origins and to downstream work products. When a new regulation arrives, that mapping quickly reveals which requirements, designs, deliverables, and test cases are impacted. This enables accurate impact analysis and change control, which is the primary benefit the project manager should expect.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
It automatically updates the project schedule to reflect the new regulation.
Why it's wrong here
An RTM is a static or manually maintained artifact; it does not integrate with scheduling tools to automatically adjust timelines. Schedule updates require the project manager to assess activity durations, dependencies, and resource availability, then revise the schedule baseline through integrated change control. Expecting the RTM to update the schedule confuses a traceability tool with a project management information system.
- ✓
It identifies which requirements, deliverables, and test cases are affected by the new regulation.
Why this is correct
The RTM maps each requirement backward to its source and forward to design components, deliverables, and test cases. When a new regulation appears, the BA can trace its impact across the matrix to find every affected requirement and associated work product. This supports impact analysis, change control, and targeted regression testing, making it the primary benefit in a regulatory compliance project.
- ✗
It provides a way to estimate the cost of implementing the new regulation.
Why it's wrong here
An RTM links requirements to their sources, design, code, and test cases; it does not contain cost estimating data. Cost estimates come from techniques such as analogous or parametric estimating applied to the scope of work. While the RTM can help identify affected requirements, it cannot by itself produce a reliable cost figure. Using it for cost estimation misunderstands its purpose and could lead to inaccurate budget requests.
- ✗
It ensures the new regulation is approved by the change control board.
Why it's wrong here
The change control board approves or rejects change requests based on impact analysis and business case. The RTM informs that analysis by showing affected requirements and tests, but it does not perform approval. Approval is a governance decision, not a traceability function. Relying on the RTM for approval would bypass the formal change control process and could allow unauthorized scope changes.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official PMI exam blueprint
This CAPM practice question is part of Courseiva's free PMI certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CAPM exam.