Software Quality

Appendix A: Software Development and Quality Assurance Process Standards

A.1 Introduction – Standards and Their Use

One can easily imagine professionals asking themselves questions like: “Should SQA standards be implemented in our organization and software projects? Wouldn't it be preferable to apply our experience and professional knowledge and employ the procedures and methodologies that best suit our organization?”

Despite the legitimacy of pondering on such issues, it is widely accepted that the benefits gained from standardization are far beyond those reaped from professional independence.

To introduce the subject, let us refer to the following issues:

• The benefits of using standards
• The organizations involved in standards development
• The classification of standards

A.1.1 The Benefits of Using Standards

The main benefits gained by the use of standards (benefits that are not expected in organizations who embrace a high level of professional independence) are listed in the Frame A.1:

Frame A.1: The Benefits of Using Standards

• The ability to apply for software projects and department's software development and maintenance of the state-of-the-art methodologies and procedures of the highest professional level.
• Better mutual understanding and coordination among development teams, and especially between development and maintenance teams.
• Better cooperation between the software developer and external participants in the project.
• Better understanding and cooperation between ...