ISO IEC 20741-2017 PDF

Full title and description

Systems and software engineering — Guideline for the evaluation and selection of software engineering tools (ISO/IEC 20741:2017). This international standard provides a generic, adaptable framework for objectively evaluating and selecting software engineering tools (including COTS and FOSS) that support part or all of the software life cycle. It specifies processes, activities and measurable characteristics to compare candidate tools and recommend the most appropriate option for an organisation or project.

Abstract

ISO/IEC 20741:2017 defines a repeatable, measurement‑driven approach to identify organisational requirements, map those requirements into evaluable tool characteristics, run structured evaluations and select software engineering tools from multiple candidates. The guideline focuses on the evaluation and selection lifecycle (preparation, structuring, evaluation, selection) rather than on implementation or deployment. It can be adapted to the scale and context of the user organisation and applied across tool categories that support software development, testing, configuration management, requirements engineering and related engineering activities.

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed current following ISO review cycle)
• Publication date: May 2017 (Edition 1, 2017)
• Publisher: ISO/IEC (Joint technical committee ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7)
• ICS / categories: 35.080 (Software and systems engineering)
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2017)
• Number of pages: 34 (international standard document)

Scope

This guideline applies to the evaluation and selection of software engineering tools that support part or the whole software life cycle. It provides processes and tasks organisations can tailor to their needs to produce impartial, repeatable selection outcomes. The standard does not address implementation planning or very narrow‑scope tools; it excludes general office tools (e.g., word processors, spreadsheets), broad software engineering frameworks intended for deep integration, and highly specialised single‑purpose utilities such as compilers.

Key topics and requirements

• Defined life‑cycle processes for tool evaluation and selection: Preparation, Structuring, Evaluation and Selection.
• Guidance on identifying and documenting organisational requirements for tool support.
• Methods to map requirements to measurable tool characteristics and selection criteria.
• Evaluation techniques and measurable attributes to compare candidate tools objectively.
• Selection decision approaches (including examples of selection algorithms and evaluation report content).
• Advice on applying the guideline to COTS and FOSS products as an alternative to new development.
• Recommendations for producing evaluation reports and evidence to support procurement decisions.

Typical use and users

Primary users are organisations planning to adopt or replace software engineering tools: procurement teams, tool‑selection committees, software engineering managers, process improvement groups and tool‑evaluation consultants. Tool suppliers can use the guideline to describe and quantify tool characteristics. The standard is useful for projects evaluating integrated tool chains (requirements, design, build, test, configuration management, traceability) and for organisations seeking a repeatable, impartial method to choose between competing COTS/FOSS solutions.

Related standards

ISO/IEC 20741:2017 is part of the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 family and is typically used alongside systems and software life cycle standards and quality models, including ISO/IEC 12207 (software life cycle processes), ISO/IEC 15288 (system life cycle processes), ISO/IEC 25010 (system and software quality models) and related guidance documents on life cycle management and tool use. Organisations commonly reference these standards together when defining requirements and evaluation criteria for tool support across the life cycle.

Keywords

tool evaluation, tool selection, software engineering tools, COTS, FOSS, procurement, evaluation criteria, selection algorithm, measurement, tool characteristics, software life cycle, ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 20741:2017 is an international guideline that establishes processes and activities for objectively evaluating and selecting software engineering tools that support software life‑cycle activities.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers a repeatable evaluation and selection lifecycle (Preparation, Structuring, Evaluation and Selection), mapping organisational requirements to measurable tool characteristics, producing evaluation reports and methods for choosing between candidate tools. It does not cover implementation planning or very narrow single‑purpose utilities.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Procurement teams, software/process managers, tool evaluation committees, consultants and tool vendors—essentially any organisation or group responsible for selecting tools to support software engineering activities.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The document is the first edition published in 2017 and has been maintained under the ISO review cycle; it was reviewed and confirmed current following its periodic review. Organisations should check their national standards bodies for the latest status if required for formal compliance.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It is part of the ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 family of systems and software engineering standards and is commonly used in conjunction with lifecycle and quality standards such as ISO/IEC 12207, ISO/IEC 15288 and ISO/IEC 25010.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Tool evaluation, tool selection, COTS, FOSS, selection criteria, evaluation report, software engineering tools, procurement, measurable characteristics.