Business analysis glossary
Defect Triage
What it is
Defect triage is the process of reviewing reported defects and deciding for each one its severity, priority, owner and whether to fix now, later or not at all. Participants usually include the analyst, a tester, a developer and a product owner, who together decide how each defect is handled.
Why it matters
Teams can never fix everything before release. Triage ensures serious problems get attention first and that decisions about known issues are made deliberately. The analyst contributes by explaining the business impact and clarifying whether the behaviour is a defect or a misunderstood requirement.
Example
In a triage meeting for the Tidewater Insurance portal, a bug that prevents claim submission is Severity 1 and fixed immediately. A spelling error on an infrequently used page is Severity 4 and deferred. Recording the decision and the reason for each defect gives the sponsor a clear view of what is known and accepted at go-live.