ISO 25010 – Systems and software engineering

History and Evolution of ISO Standards for Software Quality

The journey of ISO quality standards for software started with ISO 9126, which provided an early framework for assessing software quality. However, with rapid technological advancements and evolving user needs, the need for a more inclusive, detailed model became evident. This led to the development of ISO 25010, which enhanced the existing framework by introducing new quality characteristics and refining existing ones to better align with modern development practices. ISO 25010 is now a globally adopted benchmark, bringing in-depth insights and practical relevance to software quality management.

What is ISO 25010?

ISO 25010 is a framework that defines a set of quality characteristics for software and systems, aimed at enhancing product quality and usability across various platforms and industries. It is widely used by software developers, project managers, and quality assurance teams to create products that meet high-quality standards while fulfilling user needs effectively. The standard is applicable to both product-based and service-based software, as it addresses quality characteristics from development to end-user interaction.

ISO 25010 Quality Models Explained

ISO 25010 comprises two primary quality models:

• Product Quality Model: This model focuses on the internal and external quality attributes of the software. It evaluates how well the product meets functional and non-functional requirements and includes characteristics such as functional suitability, performance efficiency, and security.

• Quality in Use Model: This model centers on the user experience and usability, particularly how effectively the product supports user tasks in real-world contexts. It measures qualities like effectiveness, efficiency, satisfaction, and freedom from risk when users interact with the product.

Together, these models ensure that software is both technically sound and user-friendly, providing a balanced approach to quality in systems engineering.

Product Quality Model – An In-Depth Look

The Product Quality Model in ISO 25010 offers a detailed framework for evaluating the internal and external attributes of a software product. It includes eight key characteristics:

1. Functional Suitability
2. Performance Efficiency
3. Compatibility
4. Usability
5. Reliability
6. Security
7. Maintainability
8. Portability

Each of these characteristics is broken down further into sub-characteristics, providing a thorough way to analyze and improve different aspects of software quality.

Key Quality Characteristics in ISO 25010

Understanding the individual characteristics of ISO 25010 is essential to apply the standard effectively. Here’s a closer look at each quality characteristic:

Functional Suitability

Functional suitability measures whether the software’s features and functions meet the intended purpose and user needs. This characteristic includes:

• Functional completeness: Ensures all required features are implemented.
• Functional correctness: Verifies that functions work correctly.
• Functional appropriateness: Ensures features are suitable for their intended tasks.

Functional suitability is critical for user satisfaction and productivity, as it ensures that the product effectively supports the tasks it was designed to perform.

Performance Efficiency

Performance efficiency is essential for software that handles heavy processing or large datasets. It evaluates:

• Time behavior: Measures response and processing times.
• Resource utilization: Analyzes the amount of resources consumed by the software.
• Capacity: Ensures the software can handle expected loads.

Performance efficiency is particularly important in industries where time-sensitive operations are crucial, such as finance, healthcare, and telecommunications.

Compatibility

Compatibility refers to the software’s ability to work with other systems and platforms. This characteristic includes:

• Co-existence: Ensures that software can run alongside other applications.
• Interoperability: Measures the ease with which the software interacts with other systems.

In today’s interconnected environment, compatibility is key to creating software that integrates seamlessly with other products and services.

Usability

Usability focuses on how easy it is for users to understand, learn, and operate the software. It includes:

• Appropriateness recognizability: Makes the purpose of the software clear.
• Learnability: Measures the ease with which users can start using the software.
• Operability: Analyzes how easily users can control the software.

Usability directly impacts user satisfaction, and prioritizing this characteristic ensures that software remains accessible to users of all technical backgrounds.

Reliability

Reliability assesses the software’s ability to function under expected conditions consistently. Key aspects include:

• Maturity: Evaluates the software’s ability to avoid failures.
• Availability: Measures uptime and availability of the software.
• Fault tolerance: Assesses the software’s ability to handle unexpected conditions.

Reliability is crucial for applications in fields like healthcare, finance, and public safety, where downtime or failures can have serious consequences.

Security

Security is a critical aspect of any software, especially those handling sensitive information. ISO 25010 identifies three sub-characteristics:

• Confidentiality: Ensures data is accessible only to authorized users.
• Integrity: Maintains data accuracy and prevents unauthorized modifications.
• Non-repudiation: Guarantees that actions cannot be denied after they occur.

In today’s digital landscape, robust security measures are essential to protect against breaches, hacking, and unauthorized access.

Maintainability

Maintainability measures the ease with which software can be modified to correct faults, improve performance, or adapt to changes. This includes:

• Modularity: Allows software components to function independently.
• Reusability: Ensures components can be reused in other projects.
• Analyzability: Assesses how easily issues can be identified and fixed.

A maintainable product is easier and more cost-effective to update, making it ideal for long-term use and adaptability.

Portability

Portability examines how easily software can be adapted to different environments, including operating systems and hardware configurations. This characteristic includes:

• Adaptability: Measures ease of adaptation to different environments.
• Installability: Assesses how easily the software can be installed.
• Replaceability: Evaluates how easily software can replace another system.

Portability ensures that software remains useful and relevant as technology evolves, minimizing compatibility issues across platforms.

Conclusion

ISO 25010 is a foundational standard in systems and software engineering that provides comprehensive criteria for evaluating and enhancing software quality. By focusing on both the technical aspects of software design and the end-user experience, it ensures that products are not only functional and efficient but also user-friendly and secure. For software developers, quality assurance teams, and project managers, ISO 25010 is an invaluable tool for delivering high-quality software that meets industry standards and user expectations.

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