Quality control terms in software engineering - Part 4

1.

Prevention Cost

Cost associated with personnel engaged in designing, implementing and maintaining the quality system

2.

Appraisal Cost

Costs associated with measuring, evaluating or auditing products, to assure conformance with quality standards and performance requirements

3.

Internal Failure Cost

Costs associated with defective products, that fail to meet quality requirements and cause losses before shipping

4.

External Failure Cost

Costs generated by defective products being shipped to customers

5.

Metric

Metric - two related measures '6 defects/3 KLOC' is a metric

6.

Policy

A governing principle, typically used as the basis for regulations, procedures or standards and generally stated by the highest authority in the organization

7.

Regulation

A rule, law, or instruction, typically established by some legislative or regulatory body with penalties for noncompliance

8.

Specification

The precise and verifiable description of the characteristics of a product. A process specification would similarly define a method, procedure, or process to be used in performing a task. Specifications are often produced by technical experts as part of a contractual agreement

9.

Guideline

A suggested practice, method, or procedure, typically issued by some authority

10.

Procedure

A defined way to do something, generally embodied in a procedures manual. Alternatively, it is a specified way to perform an activity

11.

Standard

A rule or basis for comparison that is used to access size, content or value, typically established by common practice

12.

Convention

A general agreement on practices, methods, or procedures, typically arrived at by explicit agreement

13.

Method

A regularly, orderly procedure or process for performing a task

14.

Process

A defined way to perform some activity, generally involving a sequence of methods or procedures designed to accomplish a specified result and typically established by technical specialists