Software quality: An overview from the perspective of total quality management

Abstract

This essay presents a tutorial that discusses software quality in the context of total quality management (TQM). Beginning with a historical perspective of software engineering, the tutorial examines the definition of software quality and discusses TQM as a management philosophy along with its key elements: customer focus, process improvement, the human side of quality, and data, measurement, and analysis. It then focuses on the software-development specifics and the advancements made on many fronts that are related to each of the TQM elements. In conclusion, key directions for software quality improvements are summarized.