What is ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017- Systems and Software Engineering – Software Life Cycle Processes?
ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207-Software life cycle processes provides a framework for the software life cycle processes. It defines a set of processes and activities that are required for the development, operation, and maintenance of software systems. The standard is intended to be used by organizations involved in software development, including developers, customers, and suppliers.
The Software Life Cycle Processes defined in ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 include:
Software Development: This process includes activities such as requirements analysis, design, coding, testing, and deployment of software.
Software Management: This process includes activities such as project planning, risk management, quality assurance, and configuration management.
Software Maintenance: This process includes activities such as corrective maintenance, adaptive maintenance, and perfective maintenance.
Software Supply: This process includes activities such as procurement, acceptance, and delivery of software.
Software Operation: This process includes activities such as installation, configuration, and testing of software in the operational environment.
Software Disposal: This process includes activities such as the removal of software from service, the deletion of data, and the disposal of hardware and media.
This standard provides guidance on how to implement these processes, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders involved in the software life cycle. It also provides a common language and terminology for software development, which can help to improve communication and collaboration between stakeholders.
Overall, this standard defines the software life cycle processes and provides guidance on how to implement them. It is intended to be used by organizations involved in software development to ensure that they follow a consistent and effective approach to software development, operation, and maintenance.
Requirements of ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207- Software Life Cycle Processes
ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207-Software life cycle processes specifies the requirements for software life cycle processes. The standard defines a set of processes and activities that are required for the development, operation, and maintenance of software systems. The requirements of include:
Process Requirements: The standard requires that the software life cycle processes be defined, documented, and implemented in a way that ensures consistency, repeatability, and quality.
Management Requirements: The standard requires that software projects be planned, managed, and monitored to ensure that they meet their objectives in terms of time, cost, and quality.
Technical Requirements: The standard requires that software development activities be carried out in accordance with good engineering practices and that the resulting software be reliable, maintainable, and scalable.
Supporting Requirements: The standard requires that the necessary resources, tools, and techniques be made available to support the software life cycle processes.
Documentation Requirements: The standard requires that documentation be produced at each stage of the software life cycle to support communication, decision-making, and future maintenance.
Quality Requirements: The standard requires that software development be carried out in a way that ensures that the resulting software is fit for purpose, meets user needs. Also, complies with applicable standards and regulations.
Verification and Validation Requirements: The standard requires that software development activities be subjected to verification and validation to ensure that the software meets its requirements and that any defects are identified and corrected.
ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 specifies the requirements for software life cycle processes. The standard requires that the software life cycle processes be defined, documented, and implemented in a way that ensures consistency, repeatability, and quality.
It also requires that software development be carried out in accordance with good engineering practices and that the resulting software be reliable, maintainable, and scalable.
What are the Benefits of ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017
Consistency: By defining a set of processes and activities for software development, ISO 12207:2017 helps to ensure that software development is carried out in a consistent and repeatable manner. This can help to reduce errors and improve the quality of the resulting software.
Clarity: The standard provides a common language and terminology for software development, which can help to improve communication as well as collaboration between stakeholders. This can help to reduce misunderstandings and ensure that everyone involved in the software development process is working towards the same goals.
Efficiency: By defining the software life cycle processes and activities that are required for software development, ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 can help organizations to identify and eliminate unnecessary activities and reduce duplication of effort. Thus, This can help to improve the efficiency of the software development process and reduce costs.
Quality: The standard requires that software development be carried out in accordance with good engineering practices and that the resulting software be reliable, maintainable, and scalable. This can help to improve the quality of the software and reduce the likelihood of defects and errors.
Compliance: By requiring that software development comply with applicable standards and regulations, ISO 12207 can help organizations to ensure that their software is legally compliant and meets the requirements of their customers and stakeholders.
This standard provides several benefits for organizations involved in software development, including consistency, clarity, efficiency, quality, and compliance. By following the standard, organizations can ensure that their software development process is carried out in a consistent and repeatable manner, resulting in high-quality software that meets the needs of their customers and stakeholders.
Who needs ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207- Software Life Cycle Processes?
ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 – Software life cycle processes is applicable to a wide array of entities that are involved in the development, acquisition, supply, operation, and maintenance of software and systems. Below are some of the key parties who may find this standard particularly useful:
Software Development Companies
Organizations that are involved in the design, development, and maintenance of software products stand to gain significantly from implementing this standard. It provides a comprehensive framework for all aspects of the software development life cycle, which can contribute to higher quality products and more efficient processes.
Systems Integrators
Entities involved in systems integration often deal with complex projects that require the coordination of various components, possibly sourced from multiple suppliers. ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 provides a standardized approach for managing these complexities.
Government Organizations
Public sector agencies that develop or procure software and systems often need to adhere to strict guidelines for quality, accountability, and transparency. Implementing this standard can assist in meeting these criteria.
Hardware Manufacturers
Though primarily focused on software processes, this standard also covers systems engineering, making it relevant for hardware manufacturers who also develop the software that interacts with their hardware.
Regulatory Bodies
Agencies responsible for overseeing the quality and safety of software and systems may reference ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 as a benchmark for best practices, potentially making it a requirement for companies in certain sectors.
Contracting Organizations
Businesses that contract out software development can use this standard as a criterion when selecting suppliers. It can serve as a useful framework for drafting contracts, defining deliverables, and setting quality expectations.
Quality Assurance Teams
Quality assurance and control units within an organization can use this standard as a guideline for setting internal procedures and verification methods, thereby ensuring that the software or system being developed meets all required quality criteria.
Consulting Firms
Consulting firms offering services in software engineering, project management, and quality assurance can use this standard to benchmark their service offerings and to assist their clients in achieving certification.
Academic Institutions
Educational institutions involved in the training and development of future software engineers can integrate the principles and practices outlined in ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 into their curricula to ensure that students are exposed to internationally recognized best practices.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
The standard is scalable and adaptable to fit the needs of smaller organizations, not just large enterprises. SMEs looking to improve their software development practices and gain a competitive edge may also find this standard beneficial.
By adopting the ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 standard, these organizations and entities can standardize their software and systems development processes, thereby achieving greater efficiency, reducing risks, and improving overall product quality. Organizations often seek the assistance of accredited certification bodies like Pacific Certifications to guide them through the process of achieving certification, thereby attesting to their commitment to adhering to globally recognized best practices in systems and software engineering.
Lastly, Pacific Certifications is accredited by ABIS, click here to apply for ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2017 or get in touch with us at +91-8595603096 or support@pacificcert.com.
Also Read, ISO 14006:2020 Environmental Management Systems
