The power of integrated methods

Improving software quality is easy. Just do three things: (1) Insert fewer bugs, (2) Find them earlier, and (3) Find more of them. Modern test and evaluation methods are very effective at all three. What is even more effective is to integrate these methods into a modern T&E process and to integrate this process with acquisition and development methods into a software engineering program. Integration multiplies the impact of effective methods and is a major theme in modern approaches.On most projects, developers are responsible for testing as well as designing, and coding the software components. For a new component or change to an existing component, one person usually carries out all software engineering tasks. This note describes an activity sequence that is very effective at both avoiding and detecting defects when a single individual does all the software engineering. The order as well as the specific tasks in this sequence is important in maximizing effectiveness. Understanding the principals behind this process will make it easy to modify when more than one person is assigned to the development of a sinle component.