System/Software Process and Quality Factors
System Quality Factors
Capability Maturity Model
M. Smith
CMGT 555 / Systems Analysis and Development
February 13, 2012
Bob Mattus

System Quality Factors When speaking in terms of hardware and software quality, several factors come into play and should be carefully considered in order to ensure the highest quality. Quality factors play an important role in system development, design and implementation. Quality factors include functionality, reliability, usability, efficiency, maintainability and portability. Although all are of equal importance two factors stand out amongst the rest. Functionality and reliability quality factors play a significant role because they can affect the overall performance of the rest of the system. The reliability of a system is important and if the system is not reliable, all others become secondary concerns. Companies must be able to rely on a system that can serve as the backbone of the services or products they provide. They have to be able to meet the needs of their clients within a reasonable amount of time, deliver on their goods or services and conduct business efficiently from day to day. Reliability is a factor that should be discussed and considered during the system design process for different reasons the most notable in order to choose the right system. Reliability is a factor that should be continually monitored and tested at specified intervals to ensure the system is up to speed. System functionality is an important component of any business especially when older systems begin to give problems and not work as efficiently. In the development of the next system it makes sense to consider the functionality of the previous system to steer clear of committing the same mistakes. The key is to move forward and not take steps back because quality is all about improvements. A lack of functionality can lead to an increase in man hours, wasted resources, delayed deliverables and transactions and more importantly almost always cost the company money. Identifying these functionality issues early on and relaying them to the design team, will assist and guide them towards meeting the specific needs of the company.

Capability Maturity Models (CMM) SEI Capability Maturity Model (CMM) assists in refining the system development process. The CMM provides a method that allows the maturity of software to be evaluated. The more effective the system development process the better the organization will perform. There are several advantages to the system development process as result of the CMM. Some of these advantages include having a common language, a common goal, a priority on deliverables, defining the improvements needs and a common starting point.
• A system development process which utilizes the tools provided CMM will have a better rate of success. It is important for an organization to identify its rank on the maturity scale in order to make any necessary adjustments and make improvements to the overall system development process. A company can assess themselves on the CMM scale based on the following categorizations: - Level 1: Initial – At this level company processes may not be clear leading to issues within the company. - Level 2: Repeatable– At this level a company can repeat a previous success. - Level 3: Defined – At this level the company defines its processes and makes improvements as it sees fit. - Level 4: Managed – At this level the company can manage the processes. – - Level 5: Optimized – At this level the company uses technological advances to continuously improve the processes.
Currently the division of AIG I work for does not use CMM and based on the database projects I have been a part of, I would rate my division a 3 on the CMM scale. Normally a project outline is prepared and distributed. The outline consists of a summary of the current system as well as new system requirements and expectations. The process is clearly defined and all project details are captured. The process is a work in progress and usually will require further discussions as it progresses. During the follow up meetings and discussions, it is decided that an aspect of the design is either no longer needed or may need to be revised in order to satisfy the department requirement. AIG continues to improve all of its processes and eventually could increase in rate on the scale. The biggest improvement that would need to be made in the near future is the project approval process and timeline. Deliverables are rarely met within the specified time because the approval process is lengthy usually moving through several senior managers and executives before being final approval is given. Eventually the approval process will be revamped and may no longer require numerous sign offs.

References
Fitzpatrick, R. (1996, April). Software Quality: Definitions and Strategic Issues.

Retrieved from http://www.comp.dit.ie/rfitzpatrick/papers/quality01.pdf

Free Tutes.Com - Visual Basic Tutorial. (2010). Retrieved from

http://www.freetutes.com/systemanalysis/sa9-software-quality-factors.html

Sun Microsystems. (2005). Sun Java Enterprise System. Retrieved from

http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E19396-01/819-0058/scenario_techreqs.html

[pic]
CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY
I certify that the attached paper is my original work. I am familiar with, and acknowledge my responsibilities which are part of, the University of Phoenix Student Code of Academic Integrity. I affirm that any section of the paper which has been submitted previously is attributed and cited as such, and that this paper has not been submitted by anyone else. I have identified the sources of all information whether quoted verbatim or paraphrased, all images, and all quotations with citations and reference listings. Along with citations and reference listings, I have used quotation marks to identify quotations of fewer than 40 words and have used block indentation for quotations of 40 or more words. Nothing in this assignment violates copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property laws. I further agree that my name typed on the line below is intended to have, and shall have, the same validity as my handwritten signature. Student's signature:

-----------------------
Student’s typed name: Migdalia Dominguez-Smith