Constructing independent verification and validation life cycles using process kernels

Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) is a catalyst for improving the quality of a computer software system and the quality of a software development process. IV&V is employed most extensively for high-assurance systems, but it can be tailored to meet the needs of any system. To maximize effectiveness, IV&V of all levels and types must be a formalized and repeatable process. One way to achieve this is to employ a methodology that formally defines and maps IV&V activities to the development process and uses metrics to monitor progress and results. The fundamental element of the methodology described in this paper is a set of stable, well-defined IV&V Process Kernels from which an IV&V life cycle is constructed. This paper describes the methodology, details the kernels, and provides examples of IV&V life cycles.