Industrial acceptance of software quality assurance standards

Research programmes are currently being undertaken at the University of Sunderland in the area of Commercial and Industrial Practices within the UK with regard to software production. These programmes have involved extensive surveys of current approaches to software development and quality assurance. The paper reviews the developments that have taken place within the UK during the last 10 years in the field of quality assurance related to software production and presents major findings from surveys and research investigations. This includes information on the actual use and adoption of quality assurance approaches, and the use of first, second and third party quality assurance standards. The paper finally presents proposals relating to the greater acceptance of quality assurance standards within organisations