What is ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017?

ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017 is a standard that provides guidelines for evaluating software quality characteristics and sub-characteristics. It is a part of the ISO/IEC 9126 series which defines a framework for software quality assurance.

Importance of ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017

This standard is crucial in ensuring that software products meet specific quality requirements. By evaluating the various quality characteristics outlined in ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017, developers can identify areas of improvement and make necessary adjustments to enhance software quality.

The Quality Characteristics in ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017

ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017 defines six main quality characteristics that software should possess:

Functionality: This refers to the ability of the software to perform the functions it claims to deliver.

Reliability: This characteristic measures the software's ability to perform its intended functions without failures or errors.

Usability: Usability focuses on how easily users can interact with the software, including its intuitiveness and user-friendliness.

Efficiency: Efficiency evaluates the software's performance in terms of resource utilization, such as processing speed and memory usage.

Maintainability: Maintainability assesses the software's ease of maintenance and its ability to adapt to changes.

Portability: Portability measures the software's ability to run on different platforms and environments without requiring substantial modifications.

Benefits of Implementing ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017

Implementing ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017 can bring several advantages to software development organizations:

Improved customer satisfaction: By meeting specific quality requirements, software products are more likely to meet customer expectations and result in higher satisfaction.

Better market competitiveness: Software that adheres to the ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017 standard has a distinct advantage over competitors in terms of quality assurance, which can lead to increased market share.

Increase in productivity: Identifying and addressing software quality issues early on can help improve development processes, leading to enhanced productivity and reduced costs.

Enhanced software reliability: By evaluating and ensuring reliability, software developers can reduce the occurrence of software crashes or failures, resulting in a more stable and reliable product.

Greater efficiency: Evaluating and optimizing software efficiency can result in improved performance, faster response times, and better resource utilization.

Overall, ISO/IEC 9126-4:2017 is an essential standard for evaluating software quality. By implementing it, software developers can produce higher quality products that meet customer expectations and gain a competitive edge in the market.