402,091 research outputs found

    Defining Software Quality Measures: A Systematic Approach Embedded in the Objectives, Principles, Attributes Framework

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    Currently, software quality measures and metrics are being developed in isolation and often without the benefit of a guiding framework. In this paper we describe a systematic process for identifying measurement approaches and defining corresponding metrics that definitively support software quality assessment. That systematic process embodies five well-defined steps that reflect quality assessment within a framework which links the achievement of desirable software engineering objectives to the use of appropriate principles, and the use of principles to the manifestation of desirable product attributes. Ada is the language we have chosen to examine; the Ada package is used to illustrate the identification and definition process

    A holistic method for improving software product and process quality

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    The concept of quality in general is elusive, multi-faceted and is perceived differently by different stakeholders. Quality is difficult to define and extremely difficult to measure. Deficient software systems regularly result in failures which often lead to significant financial losses but more importantly to loss of human lives. Such systems need to be either scrapped and replaced by new ones or corrected/improved through maintenance. One of the most serious challenges is how to deal with legacy systems which, even when not failing, inevitably require upgrades, maintenance and improvement because of malfunctioning or changing requirements, or because of changing technologies, languages, or platforms. In such cases, the dilemma is whether to develop solutions from scratch or to re-engineer a legacy system. This research addresses this dilemma and seeks to establish a rigorous method for the derivation of indicators which, together with management criteria, can help decide whether restructuring of legacy systems is advisable. At the same time as the software engineering community has been moving from corrective methods to preventive methods, concentrating not only on both product quality improvement and process quality improvement has become imperative. This research investigation combines Product Quality Improvement, primarily through the re-engineering of legacy systems; and Process Improvement methods, models and practices, and uses a holistic approach to study the interplay of Product and Process Improvement. The re-engineering factor rho, a composite metric was proposed and validated. The design and execution of formal experiments tested hypotheses on the relationship of internal (code-based) and external (behavioural) metrics. In addition to proving the hypotheses, the insights gained on logistics challenges resulted in the development of a framework for the design and execution of controlled experiments in Software Engineering. The next part of the research resulted in the development of the novel, generic and, hence, customisable Quality Model GEQUAMO, which observes the principle of orthogonality, and combines a top-down analysis of the identification, classification and visualisation of software quality characteristics, and a bottom-up method for measurement and evaluation. GEQUAMO II addressed weaknesses that were identified during various GEQUAMO implementations and expert validation by academics and practitioners. Further work on Process Improvement investigated the Process Maturity and its relationship to Knowledge Sharing, resulted in the development of the I5P Visualisation Framework for Performance Estimation through the Alignment of Process Maturity and Knowledge Sharing. I5P was used in industry and was validated by experts from academia and industry. Using the principles that guided the creation of the GEQUAMO model, the CoFeD visualisation framework, was developed for comparative quality evaluation and selection of methods, tools, models and other software artifacts. CoFeD is very useful as the selection of wrong methods, tools or even personnel is detrimental to the survival and success of projects and organisations, and even to individuals. Finally, throughout the many years of research and teaching Software Engineering, Information Systems, Methodologies, I observed the ambiguities of terminology and the use of one term to mean different concepts and one concept to be expressed in different terms. These practices result in lack of clarity. Thus my final contribution comes in my reflections on terminology disambiguation for the achievement of clarity, and the development of a framework for achieving disambiguation of terms as a necessary step towards gaining maturity and justifying the use of the term “Engineering” 50 years since the term Software Engineering was coined. This research resulted in the creation of new knowledge in the form of novel indicators, models and frameworks which can aid quantification and decision making primarily on re-engineering of legacy code and on the management of process and its improvement. The thesis also contributes to the broader debate and understanding of problems relating to Software Quality, and establishes the need for a holistic approach to software quality improvement from both the product and the process perspectives

    Deployment of a company wide quality strategy in the automotive business : executive summary

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    Rover Group had began to address product quality in the 1980's, by collaborating with the Honda Motor Company, and commencing a "Total Quality Improvement - TQI" initiative. Whilst delivering initial improvement, it was not considered to be sufficient to sustain an organisational culture of ongoing improvement activity within the business. A five year quality strategy was created, which identified improvement milestones for each of the key business processes that drive Rover Group. A significant deployment of the quality strategy is represented by Rover's new product introduction process, which led to the creation of Project Management Policy (PMP), and a series of processes constructed as a framework known as Common Business Environment (CBE). Implementation of PMP is achieved by the mandatory requirement for new product teams to conform to the "six quality and reliability prescriptives", which are measured by adoption of a team-based self assessment process and senior management review. The Rover Group Quality Strategy demonstrates innovation in the conceptual model designed for its initial creation, and the deployment process by application of Group Judgement Theory, and the Japanese technique of "Hoshin Kanri" policy deployment. This represents a significant contribution towards the achievement of improved business results by Rover Group in aspects of product development lead time and quality

    Viable system dynamics intelligent framework for assessing and optimizing systemic reengineering for e-governance environments: A case study in corfu sunspots tourist agency

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    Dealing with problems in complex environments that impede organizational cohesion, information dissemination and coordination is extremely difficult nowadays. Usage of technology without sophisticated information sharing planning and solid processes that serve with a bottom-up approach the needs of each individual within an organization, undermines time, cost and quality of deliverables. The eG4M (e-Government for Mediterranean Countries)project basically concentrates on extending, completing and improving the e-Model through the achievement of new research results and its application by participating with the support of the Mediterranean Countries (MCs) – in establishing and consolidating their e-Government systems. This paper focuses on the development of a generic system dynamics model that illustrates the behavior of e-governance systems based on the VSM (Viable Systems Model) as well as the development of a web, collaborative intelligent framework that is built upon the system dynamics model. The framework is meant to have the form of a web-based simulation that is able to identify critical issues related to product, customer, information sharing and service quality using visualizations, automated analytics and impact analysis delivered with natural language format to support the systemic reengineering process, mitigate risk, predict issues during the planning phase and help the user understand complexity and inform his decisions with predictive insights. Modeling the behavior of an e-governance system and being able to automatically process complex relationships, data and issues upon this system mitigates uncertainty at all levels, increases awareness and understanding of the real world and delivers sustainability and viability, increases growth and sets the basis for process autonomy and better coordination, controls and quality of deliverables

    Developing student’s accounting competencies using Astin’s I-E-O model: an identification of key educational inputs based on Indonesian student perspectives

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    This paper discusses a model for developing Students’ Accounting Competencies (SAC) using Astin’s Input-Environment-Outcome (I-E-O) model. SAC based on AICPA core competency is considered important due to business and environment changes. Student Motivation, Student Previous Achievement, Student Demographic Characteristics, Learning Facilities, and Comfort of Class Size are educational inputs. Student Engagement and SAC are proxies for Environment and Outcome respectively. Empirically, the aforementioned educational inputs except Student Demographic Characteristics are important inputs for improving SAC. Student Engagement effectively mediates the influence of inputs on SAC. The I-E-O model is appropriate for analysing relationships among a single input, Student Engagement, and SAC. This model becomes less powerful for analysing simultaneous relationships among multiple inputs, Student Engagement, and SAC. Future research on using other assessments for gauging SAC, identifying other significant inputs, identifying the impact of real class size on Student Engagement and SAC, and developing Student Engagement for accounting courses are required

    A prescriptive approach to qualify and quantify customer value for value-based requirements engineering

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    Recently, customer-based product development is becoming a popular paradigm. Customer expectations and needs can be identified and transformed into requirements for product design with the help of various methods and tools. However, in many cases, these models fail to focus on the perceived value that is crucial when customers make the decision of purchasing a product. In this paper, a prescriptive approach to support value-based requirements engineering (RE) is proposed, describing the foundations, procedures and initial applications in the context of RE for commercial aircraft. An integrated set of techniques, such as means-ends analysis, part-whole analysis and multi-attribute utility theory is introduced in order to understand customer values in depth and width. Technically, this enables identifying the implicit value, structuring logically collected statements of customer expectations and performing value modelling and simulation. Additionally, it helps to put in place a system to measure customer satisfaction that is derived from the proposed approach. The approach offers significant potential to develop effective value creation strategies for the development of new product

    Student-Centered Learning: Functional Requirements for Integrated Systems to Optimize Learning

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    The realities of the 21st-century learner require that schools and educators fundamentally change their practice. "Educators must produce college- and career-ready graduates that reflect the future these students will face. And, they must facilitate learning through means that align with the defining attributes of this generation of learners."Today, we know more than ever about how students learn, acknowledging that the process isn't the same for every student and doesn't remain the same for each individual, depending upon maturation and the content being learned. We know that students want to progress at a pace that allows them to master new concepts and skills, to access a variety of resources, to receive timely feedback on their progress, to demonstrate their knowledge in multiple ways and to get direction, support and feedback from—as well as collaborate with—experts, teachers, tutors and other students.The result is a growing demand for student-centered, transformative digital learning using competency education as an underpinning.iNACOL released this paper to illustrate the technical requirements and functionalities that learning management systems need to shift toward student-centered instructional models. This comprehensive framework will help districts and schools determine what systems to use and integrate as they being their journey toward student-centered learning, as well as how systems integration aligns with their organizational vision, educational goals and strategic plans.Educators can use this report to optimize student learning and promote innovation in their own student-centered learning environments. The report will help school leaders understand the complex technologies needed to optimize personalized learning and how to use data and analytics to improve practices, and can assist technology leaders in re-engineering systems to support the key nuances of student-centered learning
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