ECSS-Q-HB-80-02 (PART-1A), SPACE PRODUCT ASSURANCE: SOFTWARE PROCESS ASSESSMENT AND IMPROVEMENT - PART 1: FRAMEWORK (08-OCT-2010)

ECSS-Q-HB-80-02 (PART-1A), SPACE PRODUCT ASSURANCE: SOFTWARE PROCESS ASSESSMENT AND IMPROVEMENT - PART 1: FRAMEWORK (08-OCT-2010)., This handbook provides a framework for the assessment and improvement of software processes for the European space industry and organizations, weather customers or suppliers. The framework presented in this handbook is called SPiCE for Space (S4S). As its name already mentions, S4S is based on SPICE (Software Process Capability dEtermination), a major international initiative to support the development of ISO/IEC 15504. In turn, ISO/IEC 15504 provides a common internationally recognized framework for the terminology and reference process assessment description. The process assessment and improvement standardization efforts within the SPICE project have tried to be as general as possible, to be applicable to all domains, including the space domain. The space software development processes are not substantially different from software processes in some other application domains (e.g. defence, public transport), therefore S4S uses the material provided in ISO/IEC 15504 \'as is\' as much as possible. The major benefits of using a standardized approach to process assessment and improvement are that it can: • lead to a common understanding of the use of process assessment for process improvement and capability determination; • facilitate capability determination in procurement; • contribute to increase the efficiency and competitiveness of an organization • be controlled and regularly reviewed in the light of experience of use; • be changed and improved only by international consensus; • encourage harmonization of existing schemes Nevertheless, a number of requirements were identified from the ECSS Standards which appear to be unique, or which are of particular importance for space software processes. All space requirements not adequately represented within the ISO/IEC 15504 process assessment model were addressed and incorporated into S4S. This Handbook provides the instruments and information to determine the level of process performance and capability, to improve the software processes identifying the changes or additions that should be done, and to ensure that all ECSS requirements are met for a given project. ECSS Standards impose requirements on processes but do not constitute process descriptions themselves.