Early results of a comparative evaluation of ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 15504 assessment methods applied to a software project.

Abstract

This paper presents early results of a comparative study undertaken on a software project. The methods used for assessment included an ISO 9001 based audit checklist for software (SABS ARP042), and the emerging ISO/IEC 15504 standard for software process assessment and capability determination. While the two methods focus on different issues, namely - quality system compliance to ISO 9001 in the first case and determination of supplier capability in the case of ISO/IEC 15504, both have the common goal of process improvement. The software project used as the subject of the case study is supported by an ISO 9001 compliant quality management system within an enterprise certificated to ISO 9001 for the development of software. Consequently, a high level of compliance to ISO 9001 was indicated. The application of ISO/IEC 15504 revealed a level of capability indicative of processes entrenched and maintained at the organisational level, and pervasive in all projects supported in the enterprise. The paper examines the consequences of applying the two types of assessments, and suggests some scenarios for application in other contexts.