Software product assurance-reducing software risk in critical systems

Abstract

It is shown how software product assurance can improve the reliability of critical systems by reducing the system development risks of unsatisfied requirements, cost overruns, and schedule slippages. The thesis is that product assurance increases visibility into the development process, thereby making it more manageable. The visibility needs of three classes of people-senior managers, project managers, and product assurance practitioners-are discussed. Two examples of systems critically dependent on software-a computer-driven insulin-infusion pump and a bank financial-transaction processor-are used to illustrate in specific terms how product assurance would improve safety and reliability by mitigating software development risk.<>