Overview
ISO/IEC 25002:2024 - part of the SQuaRE series - defines a framework for creating and using quality models for systems, software, data and IT services. Published March 2024, this first-edition international standard explains the concept, structure and semantics of quality models and describes how they relate to measurement, requirement definition and quality evaluation. ISO/IEC 25002 provides guidance, requirements and examples to help organizations define consistent, reusable quality characteristics and sub‑characteristics that support non‑functional requirements and evidence‑based evaluation.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Quality model concept and structure: Defines what a quality model is and how quality characteristics and sub‑characteristics are organized and interpreted.
- Semantics and ontology: Establishes clear meanings and relationships between model elements so stakeholders share a common language for quality.
- Relationship to other quality concepts: Describes how quality models connect with quality measurement, requirement definition, and evaluation processes.
- Usage guidelines and examples: Practical guidance for applying, extending and tailoring models to specific contexts and system types.
- Quality model framework components: Coverage includes model categories, priorities and conditions for quality requirements, and the role of stakeholders.
- Process integration: Guidance on using quality models across lifecycle activities including quality engineering, measurement, evaluation and management.
- Requirements for model development: Sets expectations for creating robust, interoperable quality models (structure, semantics and traceability).
Practical applications
- Establishing a standardized quality vocabulary for system and software projects to reduce ambiguity in non‑functional requirements.
- Guiding the definition of measurable quality requirements (performance, reliability, security, usability, etc.) that can be verified and evaluated.
- Designing quality measurement programs and evaluation processes that map measures to quality characteristics.
- Supporting procurement, certification and acceptance testing by providing objective references for quality evaluation.
- Informing organizational quality management activities and aligning product quality goals with stakeholder needs and sustainable development objectives.
Who will use ISO/IEC 25002:2024
- Systems and software engineers defining non‑functional requirements
- Quality engineers, evaluators and test leads who design measurements and evaluations
- Requirements analysts, product managers and acquirers procuring IT products and services
- Standards architects and tool vendors implementing SQuaRE‑based quality frameworks
- Organizations aligning quality practices with ISO/IEC SQuaRE and wider quality management systems
Related standards and interoperability
ISO/IEC 25002 is intended to be used with other SQuaRE documents such as ISO/IEC 25010, ISO/IEC TS 25011, ISO/IEC 25012, ISO/IEC 25019, and with measurement and evaluation standards (ISO/IEC 25020–25029, 25040–25049). It also complements lifecycle and process standards like ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288, ISO/IEC 33000 and ISO 9001.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 25002:2024, SQuaRE, quality model, software quality, systems and software engineering, quality requirements, quality evaluation, quality measurement.