A Method for Software Quality Planning, Control, and Evaluation

n increasing number of software process and product standards emphasize the need for measurement. ISO 9001, for example, provides guidance for monitoring and controlling product and process characteristics during both production and installation. 1 However, standards provide little guidance as to what exactly users should measure and how to use the results to support the development of high-quality software. Furthermore, measurement cannot be defined independent of context. A metric set judged valid on one project may lead to poor quality or high development costs when applied to another project. 2 When quality is measured, several factors come into play, including product characteristics (such as size), process maturity level of the company developing the software product, its development environment (such as the design methodology and CASE tools used), and the development team's skill and experience. 3 A Researcher's CORNER Squid is a method and a tool for qualit y assurance and control that allows a soft ware development organization to plan and control product qualit y during development. The Telescience soft ware development project used it to build a remote monitoring and control system based in Antarctica. A Method for Software Quality Planning, Control, and Evaluation .