EMERALD: a case study in enhancing software reliability

As software grows in both size and complexity, reliability becomes a critical issue, particularly in the area of telecommunications. This case study examines a tool and procedures developed at a large telecommunications company for software risk assessment. EMERALD (Enhanced Measurement for Early Risk Assessment of Latent Defects) has been applied at all stages of the software life-cycle to indicate risk of future software problems. The tool provides information used for decision support during design, code inspection, testing and maintenance. EMERALD has been instrumental in Nortel's efforts to increase efficiency, control costs, and enhance both product quality and customer satisfaction.