December 2002
Volume 5 • Number 1

Contents

QUALITY MANAGEMENT
Soft Factors Affecting Software Quality

by Fred J. Heemstra, Open University, The Netherlands, and Rob J. Kusters, Open University, The Netherlands and Eindhoven University of Technology

INTRODUCTION

To improve software quality, insight is required into the factors that influence software quality and the way these factors can be manipulated. Only then can quality improvement be realized using well-directed actions. In principle, many factors can be identified. However, the relevance of these factors to a specific situation, the effects these factors can have on software quality, and the way these factors can be influenced to further a positive result is often not clear.

In this article, the authors develop a framework for identifying software quality drivers and discuss a number of the less technical, “softer” drivers and their impact on software quality.

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