Software Quality Models and Philosophies

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Chapter One __________________________________________

1. Software Quality Models and Philosophies

1.1. Introduction

The purpose of this chapter is to provide an overview to different quality models. It will also discuss what quality is by presenting a number of high-profile quality gurus together with their thoughts on quality (which in some cases actually results in a more or less formal quality model). The chapter is structured as follows: To be able to discuss the topic of quality and quality models, we as many others, must fist embark on trying to define the concept of quality. Section 1.2 provides some initial definitions and scope on how to approach this elusive and subjective word. Section 1.3 provides a wider perspective on quality by presenting a more philosophical management view on what quality can mean. Section 1.4 continues to discuss quality through a model specific overview of several of the most popular quality models and quality structures of today. The chapter is concluded in Section 1.5 with a discussion about presented structures of quality, as well as some concluding personal reflections.

1.2. What is Quality

To understand the landscape of software quality it is central to answer the so often asked question: what is quality? Once the concept of quality is understood it is easier to understand the different structures of quality available on the market. As follows, and before we embark into the quality quagmire, we will spend some time to sort out the question: what is quality. As many prominent authors and researchers have provided an answer to that question, we do not have the ambition of introducing yet another answer but we will rather answer the question by studying the answers that some of the more prominent gurus of the quality management community have provided. By learning from those gone down this path before us we can identify that there are two major camps when discussing the meaning and definition of (software)...