INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC

STANDARD 12207
IEEE
Std 12207-2008

Second edition
2008-02-01

Systems and software engineering —

Software life cycle processes
ISO/IEC 12207:2008 - Preview only Copy via ILNAS e-Shop

Ingénierie des systèmes et du logiciel — Processus du cycle de vie

du logiciel

Reference number
ISO/IEC 12207:2008(E)
IEEE
Std 12207-2008
 ISO/IEC 12207:2008(E)
IEEE Std 12207:2008

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ISO
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Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail [email protected]
Web www.iso.org
 ISO/IEC 12207:2008(E)
IEEE Std 12207™-2008
(Revision of
IEEE/EIA 12207.0-1996)

Systems and software engineering — Software life cycle

processes
ISO/IEC 12207:2008 - Preview only Copy via ILNAS e-Shop

Sponsor
Software & Systems Engineering Standards Committee
of the
IEEE Computer Society

© ISO/IEC 2008 ⎯ All rights reserved

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 ISO/IEC 12207:2008(E)
IEEE Std 12207-2008

Abstract: 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 applies to the acquisition
of systems and software products and services, to the supply, development, operation, maintenance, and
disposal of software products and the software portion of a system, whether performed internally or
externally to an organization. Those aspects of system definition needed to provide the context for software
products and services are included. Software includes the software portion of firmware. This revision
integrates ISO/IEC 12207:1995 with its two amendments and was coordinated with the parallel revision of
ISO/IEC 15288:2002 (System life cycle processes) to align structure, terms, and corresponding
organizational and project processes. This standard may be used stand alone or jointly with
ISO/IEC 15288, and supplies a process reference model that supports process capability assessment in
accordance with ISO/IEC 15504-2 (Process assessment). An annex provides support for IEEE users and
describes relationships of this International Standard to IEEE standards.
Keywords: acquisition, agreement, assessment, audit, configuration management, development,
maintenance, disposal, operation, process reference model, process improvement, quality assurance,
retirement, supply, validation, verification
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Published 31 January 2008. Printed in the United States of America.
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 ISO/IEC 12207:2008(E)
IEEE Std 12207-2008

International Standard ISO/IEC 12207:2008(E)

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees established
by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC technical
committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental and non-
governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information technology,
ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
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ISO/IEC 12207 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 7, Software and systems engineering.

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO/IEC 12207:1995), which has been technically
revised. It also incorporates the Amendments ISO/IEC 12207:1995/Amd.1:2002 and ISO/IEC 12207:1995/Amd.2:2004.

Changes in this revision of ISO/IEC 12207 were developed in conjunction with a corresponding revision of
ISO/IEC 15288. The purpose of these revisions is to better align the two International Standards to facilitate
their joint use. This alignment is the first step toward harmonization of the structures and contents of the two
International Standards, while supporting the requirements of the assessment community. This alignment
provides the foundation to facilitate evolution to an integrated and fully harmonized treatment of life cycle
processes. This International Standard was developed with the following goals:

⎯ incorporate and rationalize both Amendments;

⎯ provide a common terminology between the revision of ISO/IEC 15288 and ISO/IEC 12207;
⎯ where applicable, provide common process names and process structure between the revision of the
ISO/IEC 15288 and this International Standard;
⎯ enable the user community to evolve towards fully harmonized standards and to provide a stable
standard, while maximizing backward compatibility; and
⎯ leverage ten years of experience with the development and use of ISO/IEC 12207 and ISO/IEC 15288.

A subsequent revision is intended to achieve a fully harmonized view of the system and software life cycle
processes. Identified areas to address in the future include: common process purposes and outcomes,
architecture of the standards, level of prescription of activities and tasks, life cycle treatments, treatment of
products and services, common verification and validation concepts, common configuration management
concepts, deferred recommendations and alignment with other applicable standards.

The IEEE Computer Society collaborated with ISO/IEC JTC 1 in the development of this International
Standard. IEEE/EIA 12207.0-1996, Industry Implementation of International Standard ISO/IEC 12207:1995
Standard for Information Technology – Software Life Cycle Processes, was one of the base documents used
in the development of this International Standard.

© ISO/IEC 2008 ⎯ All rights reserved

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 ISO/IEC 12207:2008(E)
IEEE Std 12207-2008

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