Traceability is always there, without having to think about getting it there. Traceability is neither consciously established nor sought; it is built-in and effortless. It has effectively

Traceability is fit for purpose and supports stakeholder needs.

The return from using traceability is adequate in relation to the outlay of establishing it.

Traceability is established as specified, moment-to-moment, and the rich semantics accommodate changing stakeholder needs.

All stakeholders have full confidence in the traceability, as it is created and maintained in the face of inconsistency, omissions and change; they can and do depend upon it.

More and more artifacts are supported by traceability, of varying types and at variable levels of granularity, as the traceability extends through-life, and across organizational and business boundaries.

Traceability is exchanged, merged and reused across projects, organizations, domains, product lines and supporting tools.

Traceability is a strategic priority valued by all, where every stakeholder has a role to play and actively discharges his or her responsibilities.