To summarize, several review techniques can be used to uncover defects during the individual review stage. These techniques include ad hoc reviewing, checklist-based reviewing, scenario-based reviewing, perspective-based reading, and role-based reviewing.
Ad hoc reviewing is a commonly used technique where reviewers read the work product sequentially and document issues as they encounter them. It is highly dependent on the reviewer's skills and may lead to many duplicate problems reported by different reviewers.
Checklist-based reviewing is a systematic technique where reviewers detect issues based on checklists distributed at review initiation. Review checklists should be specific to the type of work product under review and should be maintained regularly to cover issue types missed in previous studies.
Scenario-based reviewing provides reviewers with structured guidelines on reading through the work product based on expected usage. Reviewers should be open to the documented scenarios and look for defects outside the systems.
Perspective-based reading requires reviewers to take on different stakeholder viewpoints in individual reviewing. Reviewers attempt to use the work product under review to generate the product they would derive from. Different stakeholder viewpoints lead to more depth in individual reviewing with less duplication of issues across reviewers.
Role-based reviewing is a technique in which reviewers evaluate the work product from the perspective of individual stakeholder roles. The same principles apply in perspective-based reading because the roles are similar.
Empirical studies have shown that perspective-based reading is the most effective general technique for reviewing requirements and technical work products. The success factor includes and weighs different stakeholder viewpoints appropriately based on risks.