Boehm Software Quality Model

Feb 21, 2019

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Software Quality is defined to be a combination of features and functions of a product or service that determines the capability of software in order to satisfy the needs and requirements of software.

The three commonly known quality models are as follows:

1. McCall's Quality Model.
2. Boehm quality model.
3. Dromey's quality model.

Boehm software quality model was introduced in the year of 1978. The model is used to represent a hierarchical model that structures around high level characteristics, intermediate level characteristics, and primitive characteristics. All of these together results in to establishment of a high quality software model.

The model defines the quality of software on the basis of a set of credentials and measurements. It is also elucidates a model of software quality characteristics. The high level of characteristics is made in such a way that answers following questions:

• As-Is Utility:: It defines the way a utility signifies the as-is utility. It creates a question of how easily, reliably and efficiently an as can be utilized.
• Maintainability:: This aspect decides how convenient it is to understand, change or re-evaluate a process.
• Portability: This aspect helps in deciding an effective way to change an environment.

The intermediate level of characteristics represented by the model displays seven quality factors that altogether signify expected quality from a software system. These are as follows:

• Flexibility: It is very easy to amend the software as per the requirement. Parameters of the software should be so flexible that they can react on numerous situations.
• Reliability: Software performance should be reliable with zero defects. Result should be accurate.
• Portability: Software can run on different computer' program example DOS, windows.
• Efficiency: Practical & efficient use of resources or data collected. Optimum utilization of resources should be made.
• "Testability": Software should be tested easily and as a result users can easily check that the results are correct, so that they can rely on result blindly.
• Understandability: Software should be simple to understand for users so that they can use it properly and efficiently.
• Usability: Users can apply it easily and comfortably.

The factors can result into creation of other measurable properties. These are as follows:

1. Device Independence.
2. Accuracy.
3. Completeness.
4. Robustness.
5. Consistency.
6. Accountability.
7. Device efficiency.
8. Accessibility.
9. Communicativeness.
10. Self-descriptiveness.
11. Legibility.
12. Augment-ability.

The Boehm Model was created after doing improvements in McCall software quality model encountered few errors in it. This new model of Boehm was found to be more interesting as it is placed in hierarchical order. The order begins with addressing the major concerns of the end-users. On the contrary, the bottom of the hierarchy displays the technically inclined personnel.

The model focuses on measuring properties and characteristics in such a way that create complex and non-technical stakeholders that are involved in the life-cycle of software. As compared to McCall model, this model is used in a widespread manner because of its bottom to top approach of software quality.

Even though this "software quality model" overcomes the shortcomings of various olden software quality models and as it provides a basic amount of support by following a top down approach to quality of software, this model is also short-lived as far as a solid "software quality testing"is expected to be.