Software reliability : an empirical analysis of the effect of criticality, complexity, and clout / by Anne Elizabeth Speed.
Anne Elizabeth. Speed · The University of Queensland · 1993
Information systems, including software, are becoming pervasive throughout business, organisations, and society. Software now controls many functions which contribute to the smooth running of normal day life, as well as literally life-and-death applications. This increasing pervasiveness has increased the importance of software reliability. This study was designed to test the effect that software criticality, complexity, and clout have on reliability. This study focused on the programming and testing phases of the software development process. Multiple sources of information were used to gather data, including interviews, questionnaires, and analysis of documentation. This research proposed that criticality and clout would have a positive relationship with software reliability, and that complexity would have a negative relationship with software reliability. The results provided mixed support for these hypotheses. Software reliability was found to be significantly related to clout, but no significant relationship was found for criticality and complexity. Project management and programming language were found to significantly impact software reliability.