The quality charter

11.2 The quality charter

Without clear direction and support from management, an SQS faces an uphill struggle.

Early in the planning stages of the SQS, a statement of what the system will accomplish is necessary. In other words, the requirements for the system must be established. Following that, the software quality group itself must be recognized with a specific charter of its role, responsibilities, authority, and organizational placement for the specific software development project.

The sample charter in Appendix J defines the limits of the software quality group's activities. It describes the expectations of and degree of support by management for the group and its efforts. In so doing, the charter formally demonstrates the commitment that management is making to the software quality group and its system. The charter can also be the instrument that describes the allocation of SQS functions and the organizational groups to which they are assigned, although that is often a part of the implementation plan, which comes later.

In summary, the charter is the written statement of management's intention to proceed with the SQS. With this document in hand, the software quality group can go forward with a clearly defined role in the total organization. Without it, there is no recourse when one or another of the SQS activities is challenged or ignored.