Procedures and Work Instructions

This chapter discusses the following topics: software quality assurance (SQA) procedures and work instructions and their conceptual hierarchy; and procedure manuals. Work instructions are specific to a team or department; they supplement procedures by providing explicit details that are suitable solely to the needs of one team, department, or unit. Work instructions deal with the application of procedures, adapted to the requirements of a specific project team, customer, or other relevant party. Standardization is defined as the application of a fixed format and structure and is the principle applied to all SQA procedures. An 'active' SQA procedures manual conceals numerous and often ongoing activities that guarantee the procedures' continued applicability: preparation of the procedures, their implementation, and regular updating. The updating should be viewed as an integral stage to software quality assurance and as important as preparing new procedures.