Overview
ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2017 - Systems and software engineering - Vocabulary is a harmonized international vocabulary that collects and standardizes terminology used across systems and software engineering. Prepared jointly by ISO, IEC/ISO JTC 1/SC 7, the IEEE Computer Society and with PMI input, the standard serves as a reference glossary to promote consistent term usage, facilitate communication across teams and encourage adoption of related systems and software engineering standards.
Key topics and requirements
- Common vocabulary scope: Applicable to all systems and software engineering work within ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 and the IEEE Computer Society remit.
- Entry structure and presentation:
- Alphabetical entries with preferred terms highlighted and synonyms listed under them.
- Entries may be single words, phrases, or abbreviated terms; numbered definitions present general-to-specific meanings.
- Notes, examples and figures from source standards may be included to clarify definitions.
- Source and references:
- Definitions reference active source standards (ISO, IEEE, PMI) so users can explore original context.
- Annex A and the Bibliography list additional references.
- Maintenance and publication:
- The vocabulary is maintained in an online database (SEVOCAB) hosted by the IEEE Computer Society; the published ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2017 is a snapshot of that database.
- Editorial and maintenance follow ISO/IEC directives and the vocabulary validation team procedures.
- Inclusions and exclusions:
- Excludes parochial, proprietary/trademarked, trivially inferable multi-word terms, and terms whose IT usage matches common English dictionary meaning.
- Styling rules: Uses US-preferred spelling in terms/definitions; multiple acceptable spellings are acknowledged where appropriate.
Applications and who uses it
ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2017 is practical for:
- Systems and software engineers standardizing requirements, design and documentation language.
- Project managers and PMI practitioners aligning project terminology with standards.
- Standards developers and committee members ensuring term consistency across standards.
- Technical writers, auditors and trainers creating documentation, compliance evidence and educational materials.
- Tool vendors and ontology/modeling teams integrating standardized terms into metadata, APIs and development tools.
Benefits include reduced ambiguity in specifications, improved cross-team communication, and easier lookup of authoritative definitions via the SEVOCAB online database.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 7 standards (software and systems engineering)
- IEEE Computer Society systems and software engineering standards
- PMI Glossary (source material included where indicated)
Keywords: ISO/IEC/IEEE 24765:2017, systems and software engineering vocabulary, SEVOCAB, software engineering glossary, standards terminology.