IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

Introduction for
Software Configuration
Management
Training
I thought I
knew it all !
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

History of 12207

ISO/IEC 12207 – 1995: Standard for Information Technology –

Software Life Cycle Processes

IEEE/EIA 12207.0 – 1996: Software Life Cycle Processes

IEEE/EIA 12207.1 – 1998: Software Life Cycle Processes –

Life Cycle Data

IEEE/EIA 12207.2 – 1998: Software Life Cycle Processes –

Implementation Considerations
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

Abstract
ISO/IEC 12207 provides a common framework for developing
and managing software. IEEE/EIA 12207.0 consists of the
clarifications, additions, and changes accepted by the Institute
of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Electronic
Industries Alliance (EIA) as formulated by a joint project of the
two organizations. IEEE/EIA 12207.0 contain concepts and
guidelines to foster better understanding and application of the
standard. Thus this standard provides industry a basis for
software practices that would be useable for both national and
international business.
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”
• Purpose: This International Standard establishes a common
framework for software life cycle processes, with well-defined
terminology, that can be referenced by the software industry. It
contains processes, activities, and tasks that are to be applied
during the acquisition of a system that contains software, a
stand-alone software product, and software service and during
the supply, development, operation, and maintenance of
software products. Software includes the software portion of
firmware.
This International Standard also provides a process that can be
employed for defining, controlling, and improving software life
cycle processes.
•Application: Applies to the acquisition of systems and software
products and services, to the supply, development, operation,
and maintenance of software products, and to the software
portion of firmware, whether performed internally or externally
to an organization.
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

4. Application of this International Standard (Clause 4) (pg 6)

This clause presents the software life cycle that can be employed
to acquire, supply, develop, operate, and maintain software
products. The objective is to provide a road map for the users of
this International Standard so that they can orient themselves in it
and apply it judiciously.

4.1.1 Life Cycle Processes: This International Standard groups

the activities that may be performed during the life cycle of
software into five primary processes, eight supporting processes,
and four organizational processes. Each life cycle process is
divided into a set of activities; each activity is further divided into
a set of tasks. Subclause numbering a.b denotes a process, a.b.c
an activity, and a.b.c.d a task. These life cycle processes are
introduced below in depicted in figure 1 (see pg 7).
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”
5 PRIMARY 8 SUPPORTING
LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES

6.1 Documentation
5.1 Acquisition

6.2 Configuration Management

5.2 Supply
6.3 Quality Assurance

5.4 Operation 6.4 Verification

5.3 Development 6.5 Validation

6.6 Joint Review

5.5 Maint. 6.7 Audit

6.8 Problem Resolution

4 ORGANIZATIONAL LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES

7.1 Management 7.2. Infrastructure

7.3 Improvement 7.4. Training

 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

5 Primary Life Cycle Processes (Clause 5) (pg 9):

This clause defines the following primary life cycle processes:

5.1 Acquisition process;

5.2 Supply process;
5.3 Development process;
5.4 Operation process;
5.5 Maintenance process.

The activities and tasks in a primary process are the responsibility

of the organization initiating and performing that process. This
organization ensures that the process is in existence and
functional.
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”
Development Process: Defines the activities of the developer,
the organization that defines and develops the software
product.

• Process Implementation
• System Requirements Analysis
• System Architectural Design
• Software Requirements Analysis
• Software Architectural Design
• Software Detailed Design
• Software Coding and Testing
• Software Integration
• Software Qualification Testing
• System Integration
• System Qualification Testing
• Software Installation
• Software Acceptance Support
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”
5 PRIMARY 8 SUPPORTING
LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES
6.1 Documentation
5.1 Acquisition

6.2 Configuration Management

5.2 Supply
6.3 Quality Assurance

5.4 Operation 6.4 Verification

5.3 Development 6.5 Validation

6.6 Joint Review

5.5 Maint. 6.7 Audit

6.8 Problem Resolution

4 ORGANIZATIONAL LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES

7.1 Management 7.2. Infrastructure

7.3 Improvement 7.4. Training

 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

8 Supporting Life Cycle Processes (Clause 6) (pg. 27):

This clause defines the following supporting life

cycle processes:

6.1 [a process] Documentation Process;

6.2 Configuration Management Process;
6.3 Quality Assurance Process;
6.4 Verification Process;
6.5 Validation Process;
6.6 Joint Review Process;
6.7 Audit Process;
6.8 Problem Resolution Process;
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

6.2 Configuration Management Process [a process] (pg. 29):

The Configuration Management Process is a process of applying

administrative and technical procedures throughout the software
life cycle to: Identify and define software items in a system;
control modifications and releases of the items; record and report
the status of the items and modification requests; ensure the
completeness, consistency, and correctness of the items; and
control storage, handling, and delivery of the items.

List of Activities:

6.2.1 Process Implementation [activity]. This activity consists of

the following tasks:
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

6.2.1.1 A configuration management plan shall be

developed [task]. The plan shall describe:

• The CM Activities;

• Procedures and Schedule for performing these activities;

• The organization(s) responsible for performing these activities;

• and their relationship with other organizations, such as software

development or maintenance. The plan shall be documented
and implemented.
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

6.2.2 Configuration Identification [activity]. This activity

consists of the following tasks:

6.2.2.1 [task] A scheme shall be established for the identification of

software items and their versions to be controlled for the project. For each
software CI and its versions, the following shall be identified: the
documentation that establishes the baseline; the version references; and
other identification details.

6.2.3 Configuration Control. This activity consists of the following

task:
6.2.3.1 The following shall be performed: identification and recording of
change requests; analysis and evaluation of the changes; approval or
disapproval of the request; and implementation, verification, and release of
the modified software item. An audit trail shall exist, whereby each
modification, the reason for the modification, and authorization of the
modification can be traced. Control and audit of all accesses to the
controlled software items that handle safety or security critical functions
shall be performed.
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

6.2.4 Configuration Status Accounting. This activity

consists of the following tasks:
6.2.4.1 Management records and status reports that show the
status and history of controlled software items including baseline
shall be prepared. Status reports shall include the number of
changes for a project, latest software item versions, release
identifiers, the number of releases, and comparisons of releases.
6.2.5 Configuration Evaluation. This activity consists of the
following tasks:
6.2.5.1 The following shall be determined and ensured: the
functional completeness of the software items against their
requirements and the physical completeness of the software
items (whether their design and code reflect an up-to-date
technical description).
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

6.2.6 Release Management and Delivery. This activity

consists of the following task:

6.2.6.1 The release and delivery of software products and

documentation shall be formally controlled. Master copies of
code and documentation shall be maintained for the life of the
software product. The code and documentation that contain
safety or security critical functions shall be handled, stored,
packaged, and delivered in accordance with the policies of the
organizations involved.
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”
5 PRIMARY 8 SUPPORTING
LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES

6.1 Documentation
5.1 Acquisition

6.2 Configuration Management

5.2 Supply
6.3 Quality Assurance

5.4 Operation 6.4 Verification

5.3 Development 6.5 Validation

6.6 Joint Review

5.5 Maint. 6.7 Audit

6.8 Problem Resolution

4 ORGANIZATIONAL LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES

7.1 Management 7.2. Infrastructure

7.3 Improvement 7.4. Training

 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”
4.1.1.3 Organizational Life Cycle Processes (pg 8):

1) Management Process (subclause 7.1) [a process]. Defines the basic

activities of the management, including project management, related
to the execution of a life cycle process.

2) Infrastructure Process (subclause 7.2). Defines the basic

activities for establishing the underlying structure of a life
cycle process.

3) Improvement Process (subclause 7.3). Defines the basic

activities that an organization (that is, acquirer, supplier,
developer, operator, maintainer, or the manager of another
process) performs for establishing, measuring, controlling,
and improving its life cycle process.

4) Training Process (subclause 7.4). Defines the activities for

providing adequately trained personnel.
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”

SUMMARY
IEEE/EIA 12207.0: Software Life Cycle Processes
• Purpose: This International Standard establishes a
common framework for software life cycle
processes, with well-defined terminology, that can
be referenced by the software industry.
• Application: Applies to the acquisition of systems
and software products and services, to the supply,
development, operation, and maintenance of
software products, and to the software portion of
firmware, whether performed internally or externally
to an organization.
 IEEE 12207 “Software Life Cycle Processes”
5 PRIMARY 8 SUPPORTING
LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES

6.1 Documentation
5.1 Acquisition

6.2 Configuration Management

5.2 Supply
6.3 Quality Assurance

5.4 Operation 6.4 Verification

5.3 Development 6.5 Validation

6.6 Joint Review

5.5 Maint. 6.7 Audit

6.8 Problem Resolution

4 ORGANIZATIONAL LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES

7.1 Management 7.2. Infrastructure

7.3 Improvement 7.4. Training