This is an overview of the Quint 2 software qualities. It can be extended with the implications for a specific project

Characterizes the amount of effort to change a system.

Where appropriate certain industry (or government) laws and guidelines need to be complied with, i.e. SOX. This subcharacteristic addresses the compliant capability of software.

Satisfaction of latent user desires and preferences, through services, behavior and presentation beyond actual demands.

Availability of instructions for the user on how to interact with the software

This refers to the correctness of the functions, an ATM may provide a cash dispensing function but is the amount correct?

Ability of the software to be easily operated by a given user in a given environment.

Once a software system is functioning, as specified, and delivered the reliability characteristic defines the capability of the system to maintain its service provision under defined conditions for defined periods of time. One aspect of this characteristi

This characteristic refers to how well the software can adopt to changes in its environment or with its requirements. The subcharacteristics of this characteristic include adaptability. Object oriented design and implementation practices can contribute to

Characterizes response times for a given thru put, i.e. transaction rate.

Characterizes the plug and play aspect of software components, that is how easy is it to exchange a given software component within a specified environment.

Characterizes the effort needed to verify (test) a system change.

Characterizes the ability of the system to change to new specifications or operating environments.

A given software component or system does not typically function in isolation. This subcharacteristic concerns the ability of a software component to interact with other components or systems.

Effort needed to reestablish the essential functionality after a breakdown.

Similar to compliance for functionality, but this characteristic relates to portability. One example would be Open SQL conformance which relates to portability of database used.

This subcharacteristic concerns frequency of failure of the software.

Characterizes resources used, i.e. memory, cpu, disk and network usage.

This characteristic is concerned with the system resources used when providing the required functionality. The amount of disk space, memory, network etc. provides a good indication of this characteristic. As with a number of these characteristics, there a

The ability to identify and fix a fault within a software component is what the maintainability characteristic addresses. In other software quality models this characteristic is referenced as supportability. Maintainability is impacted by code readability

Characterizes the sensitivity to change of a given system that is the negative impact that may be caused by system changes.

Effort needed to (re)establish the software’s running status.

This is the essential Functionality characteristic and refers to the appropriateness (to specification) of the functions of the software.

User-friendliness in sytem usage

Amount of time the product is available to the user at the time it is needed.

Potential for complete or partial reuse in another software product.

Ease of verifying correctness of data processing on required points.

The ability of software to withstand (and recover) from component, or environmental, failure.

Characterizes the ability to identify the root cause of a failure within the software.

Clarity of the software product’s status (progression bars, etc.).

Determines the ease of which the systems functions can be understood, relates to user mental models in Human Computer Interaction methods.

Characterizes the effort required to install the software.

Clarity of making the user aware of the functions the software can perform.

Ability to bring back a failed system to full operation, including data and network connections.

Usability only exists with regard to functionality and refers to the ease of use for a given function. For example a function of an ATM machine is to dispense cash as requested. Placing common amounts on the screen for selection, i.e. $20.00, $40.00, $100

Existence of a set of functions and their specified properties. The functions are those that satisfy stated or implied needs.

Learning effort for different users, i.e. novice, expert, casual etc.

This subcharacteristic relates to unauthorized access to the software functions.