What does AC mean in ENGINEERING

Acceptance Criteria (AC) are specific, measurable, and testable conditions that define the expected outcomes of a requirement. They provide a clear understanding of what needs to be achieved for a requirement to be considered complete and acceptable.

ACs are crucial because they:

• Ensure clear and unambiguous communication among stakeholders.
• Establish objective measures for testing and validation.
• Reduce misunderstandings and disputes during development and testing.
• Provide a basis for acceptance testing, ensuring that the developed solution meets the expected requirements.

To create effective ACs, follow these guidelines:

• Make them specific and clear, avoiding vague or ambiguous language.
• Define measurable conditions that can be objectively verified.
• Ensure they are testable and verifiable through appropriate testing methods.
• Align them with the corresponding requirements to provide a direct connection between what is expected and what is tested.

Common types of ACs include:

• Functional ACs: Define the specific functionality that the solution must exhibit.
• Non-functional ACs: Specify performance, security, usability, or reliability requirements.
• User-defined ACs: Created by end-users to reflect their specific needs and expectations.
• Derived ACs: Inferred from higher-level requirements or business rules.

Use tools such as requirement management software or spreadsheets to:

• Store and organize ACs for easy retrieval.
• Link ACs to the corresponding requirements.
• Track the status of ACs throughout the development process.
• Generate reports for stakeholders to provide visibility into progress and acceptance testing results.