Reliable software and communication: software quality, reliability, and safety

Examines the software development process and suggests opportunities for improving the process by using a combination of statistical and other process control techniques. Each phase of the software process affects the ultimate quality, reliability, and safety of the software. Control of the process, supported by appropriate tools to collect and analyze data, is essential to improvement of the software product. Since the ability to observe, control, and improve software depends on the ability to measure and analyze data drawn from the software process, data collection is central to the approach. Detailed data about each of the subprocesses are needed, along with tools to measure and analyze the data. Statistical process control techniques, besides improving system reliability, can produce a substantial economic gain in the software development process. The views are based upon experiences with large telecommunications systems.<>