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Distinguishing the Three Types of Maintenance

publish date: 2026/06/24 21:32:32.878351 UTC

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A development team fixes a bug that was only discovered because a user used the system in an unanticipated way, and the fix also involves accommodating that new way of working. Which two types of maintenance does this scenario illustrate are difficult to fully separate?

Fault repair and functionality addition

Functionality addition and environmental adaptation

Environmental adaptation and fault repair

There is no overlap; this is purely fault repair with no other maintenance type involved

Correct Answer

Fault repair and functionality addition

Explanation

This scenario illustrates the difficulty of separating fault repair from functionality addition. Software faults are often exposed because users use the system in unanticipated ways, and changing the system to accommodate their way of working - which is the best way to fix the fault - effectively adds new functionality at the same time.

Reference

Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 10th edition

Quizzes you can take where this question appears

Software Evolution - Exercises