Human factors in software quality

Software quality is still vague and means different things to different people a concept. On the developer's side, quality is the way to costs and delays accurate estimation, easier testing, better maintainability. In the literature, some metrics for software quality factors have been proposed in order to evaluate the software quality. However, these studies consists of the improvement and measurement studies especially on the development environment/computer-side. It has less research on the relationship between project stakeholders and software quality. Software Engineering Institute, in order to increase the success of the software organizations developed the People Capability Maturity Model (P-CMM). This model aims workforce management and development in the organizations. The Standish Group's 2012 CHAOS report results show that 61% of software projects have resulted with failure (43% were challenged (late, over budget, and/or with less than the required features and functions); and 18% failed (cancelled prior to completion)). When analyzed factors affecting the success of software projects, people and human characteristics affect the success of the project and its quality clearly. In software project processes, many tools and standards (ISO 9000 and CMMI ®, etc..) is used. But generally, human who will use the standards, models and tools and non-technical factors are ignored. These factors are the most important factors in the success of the projects that has been proven in the studies. In the thesis, human-based factors' the effects on the software quality is evaluated. In this context, a questionnaire that has 4 parts was prepared in order to determine the relationship between the software quality, human factors and personality types. The data collected from the questionnaire were evaluated by the statistical analysis. The findings are interpreted and some suggestions were made.