Towards an Assessment-oriented Model for External Information System Quality Characterization
This work addresses the need for systematic quality assessment in information systems, though it appears incremental as it builds on existing ISQ management concepts.
The paper tackles the problem of evaluating external quality characteristics in Information System Quality management by proposing a new assessment-oriented model called RatQual, which provides a hierarchical categorization and quantification of dependent-environment qualities, supported by an automated tool for quality evolution planning and monitoring.
Information System Quality (ISQ) management discipline requires a set of assessment mechanisms to evaluate external quality characteristics that are influenced by the environmental parameters and impacted by the ecosystem factors. The present paper suggests a new assessment oriented model that takes into consideration all facets of each external quality feature. The proposed model, named RatQual, gives a hierarchical categorization for quality. RatQual is designed to quantify dependent-environment qualities by considering internal, external and in use aspects. This model is supported by a tool that automates the assessment process. This tool gives assistance in quality evolution planning and serves for periodical monitoring operations used to enhance and improve information system quality.