An Investigation of the Adequacy of Air Force Regulations Guiding the Development and Procurement of Software User Manuals
Abstract
As the Air Force increases its emphasis on controlling the cost and quality of software development, it's important to ensure that the documentation to support that software is also quality controlled. This research evaluated the adequacy of current regulations by comparing the process for developing Air Force software manuals with the process for developing similar types of user manuals, both within and outside of the Air Force. A comparison to the regulations guiding the development of Air Force Technical Orders revealed that the requirements for software manuals are unclear, dispersed through numerous regulations, and at times contradictory from one regulation to the next, while the requirements for Technical Orders are centralized and clearly organized. In comparing regulations to the best commercial practices used by industry for developing software manuals, it was found that private companies have much more stringent requirements for ensuring quality documentation. This research recommends a revision and consolidation of the regulations for software user manuals into separate set of standards, similar to those for Technical Orders.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA246679
Entities
People
- Amy M. Baines
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology