The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) defines software independent verification and validation (IV&V) as verification and validation performed by an organization that is technically, managerially, and financially independent of the development organization.
Regardless of the industry, independent verification and validation focuses on an unbiased review of the requirements of a software selection or development project—including enterprise resource planning (ERP) software—along with the implementation of the software according to the agreed upon requirements.
IV&V is valuable in multiple scenarios, including development, implementation, and the software selection process.
For example, the software independent verification & validation process can help uncover high-risk errors and problems much earlier in the software development cycle.
The is important fiscally, becausethe cost of defects increases as the software development process approaches full implementation. The closer to implementation, the more any defect will cost to rectify. Since IV&V is performed early in the process, potential expenses from incorrect design and implementation should be avoided during verification and validation.
Sometimes, IV&V is casually referred to as a “sanity check,” partly to ensure that existing plans are based in reality. IV&V also promotes sanity by preventing the need to recode complex errors.
IV&V also reduces total project costs by avoiding the need for employees and contractors to rework the software.
Time spent fixing inappropriate plans and faulty code increases project costs and can also cause delays. As such, IV&V improves the return on investment (ROI) for nearly all software projects.
On the other end of the spectrum, IV&V promotes improved communication between program managers and personnel.
Independent verification and validation involves specific benchmarks which must be accomplished. The IV&V process includes performance reports and status indicators which foster improved, two-way communication between decision-makers, employees, and contractors.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers Software Independent Verification & Validation (IV&V) Training, a 2-day course that covers systems engineering processes employing rigorous methodologies for evaluating the correctness and quality of the software product throughout the system development life cycle (SDLC).
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.