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This article provides an overview of the newly revised IEEE 730-2014 Software Quality Assurance Standard (IEEE 730). Its purpose is to guide prospective users through IEEE 730-2014 so they can skillfully use it to produce quality software. After presenting a brief description of software quality assurance (SQA) in general and IEEE 730-2014 in particular, the author describes the project components SQA monitors and how these components relate to each other. He then presents the three SQA activity areas addressed by IEEE 730-2014-SQA process implementation, product assurance, and process assurance-as well as the 16 specific activities covered in these areas. The author's aim is to provide a clear road map to IEEE 730-2014 that will enable the reader to readily grasp what SQA as described by IEEE 730-2014 is and appreciate what it does-helping them to produce better software products and services.
Key words
IEEE standard 730, information technology, process assurance, process implementation, product assurance, project management, quality management, quality processes, software development, software development standards, software measurements, software quality assurance, software quality assurance plans, software testing
INTRODUCTION
Software quality is defined as how well the software meets its established requirements and stakeholder wants, needs, and expectations. It is one of the key attributes (along with functionality, quick time to market, reasonable cost, reliability, and safety) that software must have to be a successful product and a source of profit to the organization developing it. To assist organizations in producing quality software, the document "IEEE Standard for Software Quality Assurance Plans" was developed in 1981 under the standard number 730 and has been updated periodically since.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has revised and upgraded this standard, last changed in 2002, through a technical working group that includes the author of this article. The revised standard, whose title has changed to "IEEE Standard for Software Quality Assurance Processes" (IEEE 2014) and is referred to in this paper as "IEEE 730-2014," has been approved and will be released later this year (2014). However, it should be noted that the final version of the standard may include additional changes not known at the time of this publication.
With its expanded and detailed coverage, informative annexes, and improved readability, the new standard goes beyond...