How do we compare Software Verification and Validation-V and V

Posted in: Verification & Validation (V&V)

How do we compare Software Verification and Validation-V and V

Software verification and validation (V&V) is a technical discipline of systems engineering. According to Stauffer and Fuji, Software V&V is “a process of systems engineering which employs a rigorous methodology for doing the evaluation of the correctness & quality of a software product all across the software life cycle.”

According to Dr. Berry Boehm, Software V&V is performed in parallel with the software development and not at the conclusion of the software development. However, both verification and validation are different. Let us tabulate the differences between them.

	Verification	Validation

1	It is a static process of verifying documents, design and code.	It is a dynamic process of validating / testing the actual product.
2	It does not involve executing the code.	It involves executing the code.
3	It is human based checking of documents / files.	It is computer based execution of program.
4	Target is requirements specification, application architecture, high level and detailed design, database design.	Target is actual product-a unit, a module, a set of integrated modules, final product.
5	It uses methods like inspections, walkthroughs, Desk-checking etc.	It uses methods like black box, gray box, white box testing etc.
6	It, generally, comes first-done before validation.	It generally follows verification.
7	It answers to the question-Are we building the product right?	It answers to the question-Are we building the right product?
8	It can catch errors that validation cannot catch.	It can catch errors that verification cannot catch.

Conclusion:

1) Both verification and validation are essential and complementary.

2) Each provides its own sets of Error Filters.

3) Each has its own way of finding out the errors in the software.

Likewise we can draw comparison between Quality Assurance (QA) & Quality Control (QC)

Quality Assurance:
QA is the planned and systematic activities implemented in a quality system so that quality requirements for a product or service will be fulfilled, is known as quality assurance.

Quality Control:
QC is the observation techniques and activities used to fulfill requirements for quality is known as a quality control.

Broad differences among the two streams are as under

	Quality Assurance	Quality Control
1	It is process related.	It is product related.
2	It focuses on the process used to develop a product.	It focuses on testing of a product developed or a product under development.
3	It involves the quality of the processes.	It involves the quality of the products.
4	It is a preventive control.	It is a detective control.
5	Allegiance is to development.	Allegiance is not to development.