Part F: Software Quality & Standards for Software Quality

Question 1

72. Software quality (max 5 points)

What is software quality? (1p) Why is quality problematical for software products? (4p).

Answer 1

Software quality, simplistically, means that a software should meet established requirements.

This is problematical for software products because:
● There is a tension between requirements (efficiency, performance, etc.) and requirements (reliability, maintainability, ect.)
● Requirements are specified in an unambiguous way
● Requirements specifications are usually incomplete and inconsistent
● Requirements specifications are changing

Question 2

73. Software quality models (max 4 points)
    Choose one standard software quality model, and name and describe at least 4 quality perspectives/factors/characteristics according to the model.

Answer 2

ISO 9126 describes 6 quality characteristics: (FRUEMP) Functionality, Reliability, Usability, Efficiency, Maintainability, and Portability. Each characteristic is further divided into 3-5 subcharacteristics (palla lära sig dem dock).

Question 3

74. Validation and verification (max 2 points)

What are validation and verification?

Answer 3

Verification means to make sure the a system, component, or process meets the specified requirements,
while validation means to make sure it does what the customer really wants.

Question 4

75. Software quality assurance (1) (max 4 points)

Describe the software quality assurance according the ISO definition.

Answer 4

ISO definition:
● A planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide adequate confidence that an item or product conforms to established technical requirements
● A set of activities designed to evaluate the process by which the products are developed

Question 5

76. Software quality assurance (2) (max 4 points)

What is the uniqueness of quality assurance for software products?

Answer 5

Some aspects of software products that make the field unique:
● Software products serve almost every industry
● No warranty associated with products. Instead, there are disclaimers that the producer takes no responsibility if the product is not functioning as expected.
● Software is complex
● “Software is lack of visibility” (?)
● Few opportunities to identify defects

Question 6

77. Software quality assurance (3) (max 4 points)

Discuss the important things that effect software quality.

Answer 6

Important things (lite improviserat, men borde duga):
●	Planning
●	Informed development of specifications (i.e. someone with insight into how to develop it should have a say when the specifications are developed/accepted).
●	Communication between stakeholders
●	Review the design
●	Heed the advice of others
●	Keep complexity in mind
○	Few parts
○	Loose coupling
○	Redundancy

Question 7

78. Quality Management System ISO Standard (max 4 points)

What is ISO 9000-3 standard? What is its focus?

Answer 7

The standard offers guidelines for the application of ISO 9001 to the software industry.
ISO 9001 is a general standard for quality assurance, and can be applied to several fields. ISO 9000-3 (or ISO/IEC 90003) provides guidelines for how to apply this specifically to the software industry.

Question 8

79. Capability Maturity Model (max 5 points)

What is the Capability Maturity Model designed for? Name and describe its levels.

Answer 8

Designed for evaluating and certifying the development process in software organizations. (sv. wiki)

Levels:

1. Initial (chaotic, ad hoc, individual heroics) - the starting point for use of a new or undocumented repeat process.
2. Repeatable - the process is at least documented sufficiently such that repeating the same steps may be attempted.
3. Defined - the process is defined/confirmed as a standard business process
4. Managed - the process is quantitatively managed in accordance with agreed-upon metrics.
5. Optimising - process management includes deliberate process optimization/improvement.

Question 9

80. IEEE Std 1012 (max 5 points)

What is IEEE Std 1012 designed for? Describe the main concepts of the standard.

Answer 9

1012 is the IEEE standard for system, software, and hardware V&V (verification and validation). This is the process of making sure a development product conforms to its requirements, and satisfies the intended use.

Question 10

81. IEEE Std 1028 (max 4 points)

What is IEEE Std 1028 designed for? Describe the main concepts of the standard.

Answer 10

1028 is the IEEE standard designed for reviews. It describes 5 types of reviews (MTIWA, see above). The review procedures are applicable throughout the software lifecycle, and conform with other standards.
Important concepts are high formality, follow-up of corrections, and compliance with other standards.