This study has presented a new model for predicting software reliability based on design metrics. An introduction to the problem of software reliability is followed by a brief overview of software reliability models. A description of the models is given, including a discussion of some of the issues associated with them. The intractability of validating life-critical software is presented. Such validation is shown to require extended periods of test time that are impractical in real world situations. This problem is also inherent in fault tolerant software systems of the type currently being implemented in critical applications today. The design metrics developed at Ball State University is proposed as the basis of a new model for predicting software reliability from information available during the design phase of development. The thesis investigates the proposition that a relationship exists between the design metric D(G) and the errors that are found in the field. A study, performed on a subset of a large defense software system, discovered evidence to support the proposition. / Department of Computer Science

Effective software engineering techniques are needed to increase the reliability of software systems, to increase the productivity of development teams, and to reduce the costs of software development. Companies search for an effective software engineering process as they strive to reach higher process maturity levels and produce better software. To aid in this quest for better methods of software engineering. the Design Metrics Research Team at Ball State University has analyzed university and industry software to be able to detect error-prone modules. The research team has developed, tested and validated their design metrics and found them to be highly successful. These metrics were typically collected and calculated by hand. So that these metrics can be collected more consistently, more accurately and faster, the Design Metrics Analyzer for Ada (DMA) was created. The DMA collects metrics from the files submitted based on a subprogram level. The metrics results are then analyzed to yield a list of stress points, which are modules that are considered to be error-prone or difficult for developers. This thesis describes the Design Metrics Analyzer, explains its output and how it functions. Also, ways that the DMA can be used in the software development life cycle are discussed. / Department of Computer Science

The Design Metrics Research Team in the Computer Science Department at Ball State University has been engaged in developing and validating quality design metrics since 1987. Since then a number of design metrics have been developed and validated. One of the design metrics developed by the research team is design balance (DB). This thesis is an attempt to validate the metric DB. In this thesis, results of the analysis of five systems are presented. The main objective of this research is to examine if DB can be used to evaluate the complexity of a software design and hence the quality of the resulting software. Two of the five systems analyzed were student projects and the remaining three were from industry. The five systems analyzed were written in different languages, had different sizes and exhibited different error rates. / Department of Computer Science

Globalisation of markets has brought about enormous challenges and opportunities for business organisations. The prevailing business environment propels organisations to improve and create value in order to remain competitive. Improvement and value creation begin internally and get reflected externally in the form of value added propositions to the market. Six Sigma is a methodology known for creating value within organisations, in all industries, through process improvement which translates into enormous savings for the organisation. Six Sigma is widely used globally and it has been in existence for many years, yet it is not so prevalent in the South African business environment. This research explores the principles and approach adopted, which distinguish the Six Sigma methodology from other improvement programs. In the manufacturing industry, operational efficiencies are essential to enhance value creation and profitability. The study begins by discussing the origin, history and evolvement of Six Sigma into a methodology recognisable and espoused by leading world class organisations. The technique used to effect Six Sigma is entrenched and enforced by adherence to stipulated basic principles, breakthrough strategy and Six Sigma tools in identification and elimination of variation. The study later models some of Six Sigma tools by application on the operational entity in verification and testing of theoretical knowledge into practical knowledge that can be exploited for process improvement consequently enhancing operational efficiencies. The impact of Six Sigma on operational efficiencies underlie on the ability to positively change process effectiveness and capability to near perfection as expressed by defect rate of not more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Globalisation of markets has brought about enormous challenges and opportunities for business organisations. The prevailing business environment propels organisations to improve and create value in order to remain competitive. Improvement and value creation begin internally and get reflected externally in the form of value added propositions to the market. Six Sigma is a methodology known for creating value within organisations, in all industries, through process improvement which translates into enormous savings for the organisation. Six Sigma is widely used globally and it has been in existence for many years, yet it is not so prevalent in the South African business environment. This research explores the principles and approach adopted, which distinguish the Six Sigma methodology from other improvement programs. In the manufacturing industry, operational efficiencies are essential to enhance value creation and profitability. The study begins by discussing the origin, history and evolvement of Six Sigma into a methodology recognisable and espoused by leading world class organisations. The technique used to effect Six Sigma is entrenched and enforced by adherence to stipulated basic principles, breakthrough strategy and Six Sigma tools in identification and elimination of variation. The study later models some of Six Sigma tools by application on the operational entity in verification and testing of theoretical knowledge into practical knowledge that can be exploited for process improvement consequently enhancing operational efficiencies. The impact of Six Sigma on operational efficiencies underlie on the ability to positively change process effectiveness and capability to near perfection as expressed by defect rate of not more than 3.4 defects per million opportunities. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

This research deals with some Statistical Quality Control (SQC) methods, which are used in quality testing. It investigates the problem encountered with statistical process control (SPC) tools when small sample sizes are used. Small sample size testing is a new area of concern especially when using expensive (or large) products, which are produced in small batches (low volume production). Critical literature review and analysis of current technologies and methods in SPC with small samples testing failed to show a conformance with conventional SPC techniques, as the confidence limits for averages and standard deviation are too wide. Therefore, using such sizes will provide unsecured results with a lack in accuracy. The current research demonstrates such problems in manufacturing by using examples, in order to show the lack and the difficulties faced with conventional SPC tools (control charts). Weibull distribution has always shown a clear and acceptable prediction of failure and life behaviour with small sample size batches. Using such distribution enables the accuracy needed with small sample size to be obtained. With small sample control charts generate inaccurate confidence limits, which are low. On the contrary, Weibull theory suggests that using small samples enable achievement of accurate confidence limits. This research highlights these two aspects and explains their features in more depth. An outline of the overall problem and solution point out success of Weibull analysis when Weibull distribution is modified to overcome the problems encountered when small sample sizes are used. This work shows the viability of Weibull distribution to be used as a quality tool and construct new control charts, which will provide accurate result and detect nonconformance and variability with the use of small sample sizes. Therefore, the new proposed Weibull deduction control charts shows a successful replacement of the conventional control chart, and these new charts will compensate the errors in quality testing when using small size samples.

Typescript. / Thesis (D.P.H.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1984. / Bibliography: leaves [171]-177. / Photocopy. / xi, 177 leaves bound ill. 29 cm

Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2007.

The aim of this paper is to study the “key success factors in implementing Six-Sigma in different cultures”. A literature review is used for the research methodology. The review of literature revealed that Six-Sigma was originally initiated by Motorola, an American company, and after recognizing the effect this could have on the organization and to the bottom line, many other leading American companies then followed. It could be claimed that the success of Six-Sigma in the American firms is due to the fact that the methodology of Six-Sigma is an excellent match with American management characteristics or the American business culture. This research also found that cultural awareness issues are likely to play a role in how effective implementation of Six-Sigma methodology is in American companies. / Findings in this study indicate that Thai and American cultures are vastly different in many dimensions. The question came up that if Six-Sigma were to be introduced in a Thai manufacturing environment what implications the Thai culture would have on implementation. The resultant finding of this study is summarised as “what are the Thai culture implications of Six-Sigma implementation”. / Thai culture will have an impact on the key success factors in implementing Six-Sigma and could be concluded as follows: Can Breakthrough methodology and Result orientation in Six-Sigma methodology be used with Thai people or Thai Manufacturing?; Can “Out Box” thinking concept and “Changing” environment be implemented in Thai culture?; How did those companies build “Team work” to support Six-Sigma implementation?; Are performance based promotion and individual recognition systems being used with Thai people or Thai manufacturing?. / Thesis (DBA(DoctorateofBusinessAdministration))--University of South Australia, 2005.

Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2002.