An example of software quality assurance techniques used in a successful large scale software development

Abstract

Development of the software package for the Combat Grande Air Defense System was considered by the Hughes Aircraft Company to be highly successful in that a reliable system was produced that met customer requirements and was completed within time and budget allocations - a feat not often attained in large scale software developments. Much of the success can be attributed to the software quality assurance (QA) techniques used. Some of these QA techniques are listed in Table 1 along with the phases in which they were used. This paper describes these QA techniques in some detail, as well as those aspects of the system and software development program that permitted these techniques to be used effectively. Background information is presented first which describes the system, software, organization and software configuration management. This is followed by a description of the three major phases of software development. The overall results are then presented, followed by recommended improvements and conclusions. Many of the QA techniques listed in Table 1 were used in several phases of software development. However, a particular technique is discussed only in the phase in which it was most extensively used.