The Economics of Software Quality Assurance: A Simulation-Based Case Study.

Author List: Abdel-Hamid, Tarek K.;
MIS Quarterly, 1988, Volume 12, Issue 3, Page 395-411.
Software quality assurance (QA) is a critical function in the successful development and maintenance of software systems. Because the QA activity adds significantly to the cost of developing software, the cost-effectiveness of QA has been a pressing concern to software quality managers. As of yet, though, this concern has not been adequately addressed in the literature. The objective of this article is to investigate the tradeoffs between the economic benefits and costs of QA. A comprehensive system dynamics model of the software development process was developed that serves as an experimentation vehicle for QA policy. One such experiment, involving a NASA software project, is discussed in detail. In this experiment, the level of QA expenditure was found to have a significant impact on the project's total cost. The model was also used to identify the optimal QA expenditure level and its distribution throughout the project's lifecycle.
Keywords: software cost; software project management; Software quality assurance; system dynamics
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#151 0.171 costs cost switching reduce transaction increase benefits time economic production transactions savings reduction impact services reduced affect expected optimal associated
#125 0.142 framework model used conceptual proposed given particular general concept frameworks literature developed develop providing paper developing guidelines concepts appropriate set
#135 0.124 project projects development management isd results process team developed managers teams software stakeholders successful complex develop contingencies problems greater planning
#232 0.108 software development product functionality period upgrade sampling examines extent suggests factors considered useful uncertainty previous called complementarities greater cost present
#115 0.104 quality different servqual service high-quality difference used quantity importance use measure framework impact assurance better include means van dimensions assessing
#254 0.097 level levels higher patterns activity results structures lower evolution significant analysis degree data discussed implications stable cluster exist relationships identify
#261 0.070 software development maintenance case productivity application tools systems function tool engineering projects effort code developed applications analysis estimation methodology methods
#63 0.064 mis problems article systems management edp managers organizations ;br> data survey application examines need experiences recent organization reports departments oriented