SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE GROUP

16.2 SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE GROUP

Software testing is a part of the larger concept of software quality assurance. Testing encompasses the processes of finding defects and fixing them. Defects can be found through a combination of code inspection and actual execution of test cases. On the other hand, software quality assurance deals not only with the location of the defects but also with mechanisms to prevent defects. In the IEEE standard 610-12-1990 [2] quality assurance is defined as follows:

1. A planned and systematic pattern of all actions necessary to provide ade- quate confidence that an item or product conforms to established technical requirements

2. A set of activities designed to evaluate the process by which products are developed or manufactured

The first item above deals with testing which contributes to the quality of a product. The second item is procedural in nature; it includes actively ensuring the continuous improvement of product quality. This implies that a software quality assurance group has a larger role in ensuring conformance to the best development practices throughout the organization. Such a role is well beyond the scope of a test group. The software quality assurance group should have sufficient authority, power, and standing to work with the entire organization in defining processes and dictating peers to follow the processes [3]. The software quality assurance team should have sufficient members to do a thorough and professional job at system testing as well as quality management work. It is recommended to have a separate group for quality management work, as shown in Figure 16.2, rather than assign quality management task to system test engineers.

Quality Management Group This group works on customizing software development processes and ensuring that processes are adhered to. The group is responsible for creating and implementing a quality management program plan for the entire organization by following a standard framework, such as the ISO9000:2000 quality model. The group proactively works to drive process improvement initiatives across the organization. The group makes an effort to understand the best practices followed around the world through systematic benchmarking and to amalgamate those practices with the one existing within the organization. The team can take up additional responsibilities to implement

Quality assurance group

System test group Quality Management

group

Figure 16.2 Structure of software quality assurance group.

500 CHAPTER 16 TEST TEAM ORGANIZATION

automated collection, tracking, and reporting of metrics relevant to product development, testing, and project management.

Quality control is another term that is often used in the literature. Quality control is defined in the IEEE standard 610 [2] as a set of activities designed to evaluate the quality of developed or manufactured products . The term is used in

a production or hardware manufacturing environment, where a large number of physical items are produced and shipped. Each of the items has to go through

a testing process to ensure that the quality of the product is good enough for shipment; otherwise, the item is rejected. The quality check is conducted by the quality control group within the manufacturing organization, and the person who conducts the testing is called a quality controller.