Proactive Software Quality Mangement

Course available as online self-paced

Course available to schedule onsite

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Concepts

Too many organizations don’t even think about managing software quality (SQM) and consider Software Quality Assurance (SQA) as merely an often-resisted “traffic cop” enforcing procedural compliance. Many equate SQA with tail-end quality control (QC) testing, catching errors right before they go out the door when they are too expensive and risky to fix. Effective systems organizations realize SQM and SQA can and should do far more, contributing positively to assure that the software process in fact better produces high quality, as well as catching and preventing errors early. It’s not easy though—two-thirds of full-fledged SQA groups fail. This workshop explains the six functions SQA should perform that provide far greater value, analyzes why SQA groups so frequently have failed in IS, and presents practical approaches for successfully using SQM effectively to produce high quality systems. Exercises reinforce learning.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND: This course has been designed for systems and business managers, project leaders, systems analysts, business analysts, quality specialists, auditors, and others responsible for the quality of information systems.

Participants will learn:

Roles and relation of SQM and SQA for producing and assuring quality software.
Reasons for SQA failures and factors critical to success of SQA in IS development
The six functions that Proactive Software Quality Assurance™ should perform.
Proven methods managing quality and preventing errors throughout the life cycle.
A structured Proactive Testing model of which static and dynamic testing activities should be performed when and by whom within the life cycle to maximize testing efficiency and effectiveness.
Measuring system quality and effectiveness of SQA/Testing and SQM.

Outline

MANAGING SOFTWARE QUALITY
- What it means to manage software quality
- Economics of quality in the life cycle
- Faster, cheaper, better quality paradox
- Defect injection, detection, ejection metrics
- Common definitions of quality, issues
- Defining quality in positive terms
- Models of excellence, quality before TQM
- Quality factors and quality dimensions
- Engineered Deliverable Quality
QUALITY ASSURANCE CONCEPTS
- Why SQA groups so often fail
- Common definitions of SQA, issues
- QA vs. QC/Testing distinctions
- “Traffic cop” mentality value and resistance
- Verification vs. validation, usefulness
- Proactive SQA™ for effectiveness
- 6 functions of effective software QA
- QA Plans, quality reviews of deliverables
- Engineering standards, conventions
- Quality controls at all key points
- Recordkeeping and auditing
- Metrics and analysis for improvement
- Promoting awareness and recognition
- Relation of SQA to SQM
- Software Quality Manager role, skill set
SOFTWARE QUALITY MODELS
- Capability maturity models
- CMM and CMMI
- Discipline-specific models
- SW-TMM
- Test Process Improvement (TPI)
- Six Sigma
- DMAIC
- Lean software practices
LIFE CYCLE PRACTICES AND QUALITY
- Requirements development
- Requirements management
- Software design
- Software coding quality
- Traditional reactive software testing
- Reviews and inspections
- Proactive Testing Life Cycle model
- Defect tracking and categorization
- Defect analysis and reporting
- Configuration management and control
- Release management
- Measures and methods to improve quality