Applying ISO 9001:2000 in a Software development environment: the case of SecurSoftware Corporation

Abstract

Global competition and increasing customer awareness have made the quality as the key indicator for customer requirements and satisfaction as well as a success factor to achieve competitive advantage. Under these circumstances, companies try to become quality leadership companies and start to implement certain quality management approaches. Consequently, this research analyzes the production processes of a Lebanese company- SecurSofiware- operating in the information technology industry and facing deficiencies in its software production management. The objective of this research is to provide the company with a better understanding of the well known international standard ISO 9001 and show the benefits the company can get from implementing a quality management system in compliance with ISO 9001:2000. This study begins by gathering information about the current company situation. It limits its research on the company's core department, which is the technical one. After brainstorming all data resulted from the analysis of the company's available archive and meeting employees with critical jobs hence with critical observations and comments, the study proposes a new strategy model for the company to follow. An entire chapter is specialized to the ISO implementation project plan. A detailed plan is proposed explaining all needed resources for each step. Moreover, the study designs the 3 main processes of the technical department based on the ISO 9001:2000 requirements. Each process is drawn as a flowchart together with the advantages it provides to the company. Chapter 4 tests the hypothesis: if SecurSofiware implements a quality management system, it will improve its operational efficiency and capacity. This hypothesis is accepted based on an analysis of the development of an application taken from the company's database, comparing the old system vs. • the proposed one. Finally, the limitations faced when working on this research and recommendations for SecurSoftware top management will conclude this research.