• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.37-50
• /
• 2020

This paper is very exploratory and addresses the issue 'Is a general quality model of software possible?'. If possible, how specific can/should it be?' ISO 25000 Series SQuaRE is generally regarded as a general quality model which can be applied to most kinds of software. Usability is one of the 8 characteristics of SQuaRE's Product Quality Model. It is the main issue associated with SQuaRE's Quality in Use Model too. it is the most important concept associated software quality since using is the only ultimate goal of software products. Playability, however, is generally regarded as a special type of usability, which can be applied to game software. This common idea contradicts with the idea that SQuaRE is valid for most kinds, at least many kinds, of software. The empirical evidences of this paper show that SQuaRE is too specific to be a general quality model of software.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.71-86
• /
• 2016

This paper proposes a new software quality model composed of a hierarchy of software quality views and three software quality characteristics models. The software view hierarchy is composed of two levels : end view and means view at the first level, contingency view and intrinsic view as sub-views of means view. Three software quality characteristics models are activity quality characteristics model, contingency quality characteristics model, and intrinsic quality characteristics model, which correspond to end view, contingency view, and intrinsic view respectively. This paper also reclassifies characteristics of ISO/IEC 25000 series SQuaRE's software product quality model according to the proposed software quality model. The results illustrate clearly the shortcomings of SQuaRE's product quality model and how to overcome them. First of all, most of SQuaRE's product characteristics should be redefined and conceptually clarified according to the views on which they are really rested. Much more characteristics should be supplemented too. After that, rigorous empirical researches will become relevant. Causal relationships between activity quality characteristics and characteristics of means view should be empirically researched.

• Journal of Information Technology Applications and Management
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.73-92
• /
• 2017

Usability is one of the most important concepts regarding software quality. It can be interpreted as the goodness associated with using the software product. This paper distinguishes the goodness of an individual using experience and the goodness of a product for using. This paper proposes a software quality view model which classifies software quality views into two broad categories of end view and means view. End view includes long-term view and short-term view which is classified further into performer's view on software activity and third party's view on software activity. Means view includes intrinsic view and contingency view. The analysis of ISO 25000 Series SQuaRE demonstrates the necessity to decompose product quality model and quality in use model into five models corresponding to the software quality views respectively. The analysis on playability shows that the universal definition of usability may be an illusion. The results provide the theoretical basis to build a comprehensive and consistent body of knowledge regarding software quality, which is consisted with the set of quality models and the theories explaining the relationships among the elements of the models.