To answer this question, we need to understand the concepts of testing, quality assurance, and external failures.
Testing and quality assurance involve activities aimed at detecting and preventing defects in a product before it is released to customers. These activities typically include testing the product against various scenarios and requirements, identifying and fixing any issues found, and ensuring that the product meets quality standards.
On the other hand, external failures refer to defects or issues that are discovered by customers or users after the product has been released. These failures can result in customer dissatisfaction, product recalls, warranty claims, or even legal issues.
The given statement states that the costs involved in testing and quality assurance are less than the costs associated with external failures. This means that investing in testing and quality assurance upfront to prevent defects is more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences of external failures.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
B) Less
This option is correct because it aligns with the understanding that the costs involved in testing and quality assurance are lower compared to the costs associated with external failures.