Making the (business) case for software reliability

A business case can be developed to justify the use of higher reliability software to senior management based on the potential profits and improved market position associated with improved software development processes that use software process improvement (SPI) techniques, Results from the literature that demonstrate a positive return on investment (ROI) resulting from SPI program initiatives suggest that the highest potential ROI comes from -SPJ initiatives aimed at the earliest stages of software development. Established analytical reliability techniques are well-suited to supporting development of inherently reliable software early in the life cycle. A spreadsheet-based model developed by the Data and Analysis Center for Software (DACS) to assess the ROI, as well as secondary benefits and risks resulting from various types and levels of SPI, demonstrates the relationship of improved software reliability to the financial bottom line. Future capabijities of the DACS model will leverage new data to expand and refresh the existing model.