Independent Verification and Validation of Software Projects

IV & V stands for Independent Validation and Verification.

According to NIST, IV&V is a comprehensive review, analysis, and testing, (software and/or hardware) performed by an objective third party, to confirm (i.e., verify) that the requirements are correctly defined, and to confirm (i.e., validate) that the system correctly implements the required functionality and security requirements.

Note that it initially states that the requirements must be correctly defined—after that, it’s just a matter checking that the software and hardware correctly implement the requirements.

Software IV&V is a special procedure carried out by an independent organisation, which checks on the work of a software project. IV&V is a required stage on large US government software projects. Validation ensures the right software product is built, and verification ensures that it is built correctly. To reiterate its key points:

Software IV& is independent of the project team, performed by a third party with no commercial biases.

Software IV&V performs a validation assessment to ensure that the work matches the goals of the project and to verify that the right product is being produced.

Software IV&V performs a verification assessment to ensure that the work does what is intended and has no unintended outcomes nor consequences.

One of the key activities of Software IV&V is the assessment of requirements, which is expanded on here. The European Space Agency also adopted ISV&V (independent software validation and verification).

Any assessment of the health of a software project (ie. independent verification and validation) starts with determining desired outcomes and the capability of the team to achieve them. Clearly defined outcomes, capabilities, and requirements are essential. ScopeMaster automates the quality assurance on all fronts (and, most notably, perhaps critically, the functional requirements of any software project).

Requirements Quality Report is a key deliverable of any credible independent verification and validation of a software project

If you are a provider of IV&V services, you may want to differentiate your offerings. ScopeMaster can help you:

ScopeMaster automates essential Independent verification and validation of software projects

  • Automatically test requirements across nine quality categories

  • Automatically size software in both COSMIC function points and IFPUG

  • Automatically generate test scenarios

  • Automatically generate logical data and use case models

If… you provide IV&V services

With ScopeMaster, we guarantee that you’ll provide better IV&V on software projects for your clients. Feel free to contact us for more information.

If… you need IV&V or Project Assurance Service

ScopeMaster can also provide IV&V independently, as a standalone solution. Whatever your needs may be, ScopeMaster is here to help.