IEEE Std 1012-2012
IEEE Standard for System and Software Verification and Validation
3
Copyright © 2012 IEEE. All rights reserved.
⎯ Identify the minimum V&V tasks corresponding to a four-level integrity scheme
⎯ Define the content of the Verification and Validation Plan
1.3 Field of application
This standard applies to all applications of systems. When conducting V&V of a system, software, or
hardware element, it is important to examine the interactions with the system of which the element is a part.
This standard identifies the important system considerations that V&V processes and tasks address in
determining correctness and other V&V attributes (e.g., completeness, accuracy, consistency, and
testability).
The dynamics of complex systems and the multitude of different logic paths available within the system in
response to varying stimuli and conditions demand that the V&V effort examines the correctness of the
system for each possible variation in conditions. The ability to model complex, real-world conditions will
be limited, and thus, the V&V effort examines whether the limits of the modeling are realistic and
reasonable for the desired solution. The unlimited combination of system conditions presents the V&V
effort with the challenge of using a finite set of analytical, test, simulation, and demonstration techniques to
establish a reasonable body of evidence that the system is correct.
A system provides a capability to satisfy a stated need or objective by combining one or more of the
following: processes, hardware, software, facilities, and people. These relationships require that V&V
processes consider interactions among all system elements (software and hardware). The V&V processes
address the following interactions with the system:
⎯ Environment: Determines that the system correctly accounts for all conditions, natural
phenomena, physical laws of nature, business rules, and physical properties and the full ranges
of the system operating environment.
⎯ Operators/users: Determines that the system communicates the proper status/condition of the
system to the operator/user and correctly processes all operator/user inputs to produce the
required results. For incorrect operator/user inputs, assure that the system is protected from
entering into a dangerous or uncontrolled state. Validate that operator/user policies and
procedures (e.g., security, interface protocols, data representations, and system assumptions) are
consistently applied and used across each component interface.
⎯ Other software, hardware and systems: Determines that the software or hardware component
interfaces correctly with other components in the system in accordance with requirements and
that errors are not propagated between components of the system.
The scope of V&V processes includes the operational environment, operators and users, hardware,
software, data processes (e.g., processes for providing service to users), procedures (e.g., operator
instructions), and facilities. The user of this standard should consider V&V as part of the life cycle
processes defined by industry standards, such as ISO/IEC 12207:2008 [B11], IEEE Std 1074-2006 [B9], or
ISO/IEC 15288:2008 [B16].
To address the systems perspective, system, software, and hardware V&V effort should provide an
integrated analysis where the V&V tasks are interrelated, providing input and insight into other V&V tasks.
The results from completed life cycle processes provide valuable and necessary inputs to V&V tasks in
other life cycle processes. The results and findings from one V&V task may cause previously completed
V&V tasks to be analyzed again with the new data. This relationship among V&V tasks (including
feedback to the Technical and Software/Hardware Specific Processes) employing rigorous systems
engineering techniques is a key approach to an integrated systems, software, and hardware V&V. The
V&V results provide the other processes with an early detection of anomalies and potential process trends
that may be used for process improvement. The V&V processes and tasks described in this standard may be
used in conjunction with systems engineering and process improvement models, such as the
CMU/SEI-2010-TR-033 [B1].
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