Abstract
Quality Assurance (QA) strategies, i.e., bundles of verification and validation approaches embedded within a balanced software process can support project and quality managers in systematically planning and implementing improvement initiatives. New and modified processes and methods come up frequently that seems promising candidates for improvement. Nevertheless, the impact of processes and methods strongly depends on individual project contexts. A major challenge is how to systematically select and implement “bestpractices” for product construction, verification, and validation. In this paper we present the Quality Assurance Tradeoff Analysis Method (QATAM) that supports engineers in (a) systematically identifying candidate QA strategies and (b) evaluating QA strategy variants in a given project context. We evaluate feasibility and usefulness in a pilot application in a medium-size software engineering organization. Main results were that QATAM was considered useful for identifying and evaluating various improvement initiatives applicable for large organizations as well as for small and medium enterprises.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Basili, V., Caldiera, G., Rombach, D.: The Experience Factory. Encyclopedia of Software Engineering (1994)
Beck, K.: Test Driven Development: By Example. Addison-Wesley Professional, Reading (2003) ISBN: 978-0-3211-4653-3
Biffl, S., Denger, C., Elberzhager, F., Winkler, D.: Quality Assurance Tradeoff Analysis Method (QATAM): An Empirical Quality Assurance Planning and Evaluation Framework, Tech. Report, TU Vienna, IFS-QSE:0704 (2007), http://qse.ifs.tuwien.ac.at/publication/IFS-QSE-0704.pdf
Biffl, S., Winkler, D., Höhn, R., Wetzel, H.: Software Process Improvement in Europe: Potential of the new V-Modell XT and Research Issues. Software Process Improvement and Practice 11(3), 229–238 (2006)
Biffl, S.: Using inspection data for defect estimation. IEEE Software 17(6), 36–43 (2000)
Deming, W.E.: Out of the Crisis. MIT Press, Cambridge (2000) ISBN: 978-0-2625-4115-2
Denger, C., Elberzhager, F.: Basic Concepts to Define a Customized Quality Assurance Strategy, IESE Report No. 013.07/E (2007), http://publica.fraunhofer.de/documents/N-55580.html
Denger, C., Elberzhager, F.: A Comprehensive Framework for Customizing Quality Assurance Techniques, IESE Report No. 118.06/E (2006), http://publica.fraunhofer.de/documents/N-48500.html
Dyba, T.: An Instrument for Measuring the Key Factors of Success in Software Process Improvement. Empirical Software Engineering Journal 5(4), 357–390 (2000)
Dyba, T.: An Empirical Investigation of the Key Factors for Success in Software Process Improvement. IEEE Trans. on Software Engineering 31(5), 410–424 (2005)
Grünbacher, P.: Collaborative Requirements Negotiation with EasyWinWin. In: Proc. of 11th Int. Wsh. on Database and Expert Systems Applications, pp. 954–960 (2000)
ISO 9001:2008: Quality Management Systems – Requirements (2008)
ISO/IEC 15504-4:2004: Information Technology – Process Assessment – Part 4: Guidance on use for process improvement and process capability determination (2004)
Kazman, R., Barbacci, M., Klein, M., Carriere, S.J., Woods, S.G.: Experiences with Performing Architecture Tradeoff Analysis. In: Proc. of ICSE, Los Angeles, pp. 54–63 (1999)
Kläs, M., Elberzhager, F., van Lengen, R., Schulz, T., Goebbels, J.: A Framework for the Balanced Optimization of Quality Assurance Strategies Focusing on Small and Medium Enterprises. In: Proc. of Euromicro SEAA, Patras, Greece, pp. 335–342 (2009)
Niazi, M., Wilson, D., Zowghi, D.: A Maturity Model for the Implementation of Software process improvement: an empirical study. Software and Systems J. 74(2), 155–172 (2005)
Rainer, A., Hall, T.: Key success factors for implementing software process improvement: a maturity-based analysis. Software and Systems Journal 62(2), 71–84 (2002)
Rus, I., Halling, M., Biffl, S.: Supporting Decision-Making in Software Engineering with Process Simulation and Empirical Studies. IJSEKE 13(5), 531–545 (2003)
Schwaber, K.: Agile Project Management with Scrum. Microsoft Press, Redmond (2004) ISBN: 978-0-7356-1993-7
Stelzer, D., Mellis, W.: Success Factors of Organizational Change in Software Process Improvement. Software Process Improvement and Practice 4(4), 227–250 (1999)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
Winkler, D., Elberzhager, F., Biffl, S., Eschbach, R. (2010). Software Process Improvement Initiatives Based on Quality Assurance Strategies: A QATAM Pilot Application. In: Riel, A., O’Connor, R., Tichkiewitch, S., Messnarz, R. (eds) Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement. EuroSPI 2010. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 99. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15666-3_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-15666-3_7
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-15665-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-15666-3
eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)