A practitioner's guide to evaluation of software

Abstract

Software quality evaluation comprises a number of steps. The first step is to identify the requirements of the evaluation. In the second step the available product information is identified and classified, and the evaluation is then specified in detail. Planning the evaluation according to that specification takes place in the third step. Conducting the evaluation and collecting the findings constitute the fourth step. Reporting is done is the final step. The article reports on a framework for this stepwise procedure. Attention is given to the problems arising during evaluation of characteristics defined in ISO/IEC 9126. The main aim of the guide is to give practical recommendations for specifying and executing an evaluation.<>