Ch 17: Software Quality Assurance

What is Software Quality Assurance (SQA)?

Planned, systematic activities ensuring processes and products meet standards and requirements.

What are SQA’s main goals?

Prevent defects, ensure compliance, support continuous improvement, ensure high-quality requirements/design/code.

List core elements of SQA.

• Standards

• Reviews & audits

• Testing

• Error/defect analysis

• Change mgmt

• Configuration mgmt

• Education/training

• Safety & security mgmt

• Risk mgmt

• Vendor mgmt

What is formal SQA?

Independent assessments (audits) verifying standards/processes are followed; often aligned with ISO 9001.

Difference between SQA, QC, QM?

• SQA: Process-focused

• QC (quality control): Product-focused

• Quality Mgmt: Planning, assurance, control, improvement

What is statistical SQA?

Using defect data to identify root causes, measure process capability, and apply Pareto principle.

What is Six Sigma?

Data-driven quality methodology targeting 3.4 defects/million opportunities.

What does DMAIC stand for?

Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control.

What does DMADV stand for (for new processes)?

Define, Measure, Analyze, Design, Verify.

How does AI support reliability?

Predicts failures, identifies defect-prone modules, uses ML + Bayesian inference + genetic algorithms.

What is MTBF?

The avg time from one failure to the next failure

Mean Time Between Failures = MTTF + MTTR.

What is MTTF?

Mean Time To Failures

The avg time a system operates before it fails.

What is MTTR?

Mean Time To Repair

The avg time it takes to repair a system after a failure occurs.

Availability formula?

(The proportion of time the system is up, running, and available)

Availability = MTTF / (MTTF + MTTR).

What is software safety?

Ensuring hazards are identified and mitigated to prevent tragic failures.

What is the SQA continuous improvement cycle (SQA chart)?

Identify problem → Identify indicators → Prepare criteria → Compare results → Analyze → Improve → Repeat.

What is included in an SQA Plan?

Scope, standards, roles, tools, configuration management, metrics, audits, documentation.