What is an explanation of the SQA activities?

Answer 1

Software quality assurance is composed of a variety of tasks associated with two different

constituencies-the software engineers who do technical work and an SQA

group that has responsibility for quality assurance planning, oversight, record keeping,

analysis, and reporting.

Software engineers address quality (and perform quality assurance and quality

control activities) by applying solid technical methods and measures, conducting formal

technical reviews, and performing well-planned software testing. Only reviews

are discussed in this chapter. Technology topics are discussed in Parts Three through

Five of this book.

The charter of the SQA group is to assist the software team in achieving a highquality

end product. The Software Engineering Institute [PAU93] recommends a set

of SQA activities that address quality assurance planning, oversight, record keeping,

analysis, and reporting. These activities are performed (or facilitated) by an independent

SQA group that:

Prepares an SQA plan for a project. The plan is developed during project planning

and is reviewed by all interested parties. Quality assurance activities performed

by the software engineering team and the SQA group are governed by the plan. The

plan identifies

• evaluations to be performed

• audits and reviews to be performed

• standards that are applicable to the project

• procedures for error reporting and tracking

• documents to be produced by the SQA group

• amount of feedback provided to the software project team

Participates in the development of the project's software process description.

The software team selects a process for the work to be performed. The SQA

group reviews the process description for compliance with organizational policy,

internal software standards, externally imposed standards (e.g., ISO-9001), and other

parts of the software project plan.

Reviews software engineering activities to verify compliance with the defined

software process. The SQA group identifies, documents, and tracks deviations from

the process and verifies that corrections have been made.Audits designated software work products to verify compliance with those

defined as part of the software process. The SQA group reviews selected work

products; identifies, documents, and tracks deviations; verifies that corrections have

been made; and periodically reports the results of its work to the project manager.

Ensures that deviations in software work and work products are documented

and handled according to a documented procedure. Deviations may be encountered

in the project plan, process description, applicable standards, or technical work

products.

Records any noncompliance and reports to senior management. Noncompliance

items are tracked until they are resolved.