ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011

INTERNATIONAL ISO/IEC
STANDARD 29110-4-1
First edition
2011-01-15


Software engineering — Lifecycle profiles
for Very Small Entities (VSEs) —
Part 4-1:
Profile specifications: Generic profile
group
Ingénierie du logiciel — Profils de cycle de vie pour très petits
organismes (TPO) —
Partie 4-1: Spécification de profil: Groupe de profil générique





Reference number
ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
©
ISO/IEC 2011

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ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
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ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
Contents Page
Foreword .vi
Introduction.vii
1 Scope.1
1.1 Fields of application.1
1.2 Target audience.1
2 Conformance .1
2.1 Conformance situations .1
2.2 Conformance to this part of ISO/IEC 29110.2
3 Normative references.2
4 Terms and definitions .2
5 Conventions and abbreviated terms .2
5.1 Naming, diagramming and definition conventions.2
5.2 Abbreviations.2
6 Description of the Basic VSE Profile.3
6.1 Preparation of the Basic VSE Profile.3
6.2 Implementation of the Basic VSE Profile.4
6.3 VSE characteristics, needs and suggested competencies for Basic VSE profile.4
6.3.1 General.4
6.3.2 Finance and resources.5
6.3.3 Customer interface.5
6.3.4 Internal business process .6
6.3.5 Learning and growth.6
6.4 VSE needs and suggested competencies related to the Basic VSE profile elements.6
6.4.1 General.6
6.4.2 Needs and suggested competencies derived from finance and resources characteristics .6
6.4.3 Needs and suggested competencies derived from customer Interface characteristics .7
6.4.4 Needs and suggested competencies derived from internal business process
characteristics .8
6.4.5 Needs and suggested competencies derived from learning and growth characteristics .9
6.5 Basic VSE profile elements .9
6.6 Basic VSE profile coverage of ISO/IEC 12207 processes .10
6.7 Entry conditions for Basic VSE profile use .10
7 Basic VSE profile specifications.10
7.1 Introduction.10
7.2 Process definition and composition specification .11
7.2.1 Process PM – Project Management.11
7.2.2 Process SI – Software Implementation .13
7.3 Process objectives specification.17
7.3.1 Process PM – Project Management.17
7.3.2 Process SI – Software Implementation .18
7.4 Work product specifications .19
7.5 Activity input & output specification.20
7.5.1 Process PM – Project Management input & output .20
7.5.2 Process SI – Software Implementation input & output .21
8 Basic VSE profile base document references.23
8.1 Introduction.23
8.2 Process definition and composition references .23
8.2.1 Process PM – Project Management.23
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ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
8.2.2 Process SI – Software Implementation .28
8.3 Process objectives references.36
8.3.1 Process PM – Project Management .36
8.3.2 Process SI – Software Implementation .41
8.4 Work product references .50
Annex A (normative) Process Reference Model for Basic VSE Profile Assessment.51
Bibliography .52

Table of illustrations
Figure 1 — ISO/IEC 29110 series . viii
Figure 2 — Basic VSE Profile preparation. 3
Figure 3 — Context of the implementation rational for Basic VSE Profile. 4

Table of tables
Table 1 — ISO/IEC 29110 target audience .vii
Table 2 — PM - Project Management Process . 11
Table 3 — PM - Project Management activities . 11
Table 4 — PM - Project Management tasks. 12
Table 5 — SI - Software Implementation process . 13
Table 6 — SI – Software Implementation activities . 14
Table 7 — SI - Software Implementation tasks . 14
Table 8 — PM - Project Management Conformity Type. 17
Table 9 — PM - Project Management objectives . 18
Table 10 — SI – Software Implementation Conformity Type . 18
Table 11 — SI – Software Implementation objectives. 18
Table 12 — Work products Conformity Type. 19
Table 13 — Work products . 19
Table 14 — PM - Project Management Process . 20
Table 15 — PM - Project Management activity input & outpu. 20
Table 16 — SI - Software Implementation Process. 21
Table 17 — SI – Software Implementation input & output. 21
Table 18 — PM - Project Management process. 23
Table 19 — PM - Project Management process. 24
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ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
Table 20 — PM - Project Management activities .24
Table 21 — PM - Project Management tasks.25
Table 22 — SI – Software Implementation process.28
Table 23 — SI – Software Implementation activities.29
Table 24 — SI – Software Implementation tasks .30
Table 25 — PM – Process Management process.36
Table 26 — PM - Project Management process objectives references .36
Table 27 — SI – Software Implementation process.41
Table 28 — SI – Software Implementation process objectives references.41
Table 29 — Profile Document ID.50
Table 30 — Work products references.50


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ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) and IEC (the International Electrotechnical
Commission) form the specialized system for worldwide standardization. National bodies that are members of
ISO or IEC participate in the development of International Standards through technical committees
established by the respective organization to deal with particular fields of technical activity. ISO and IEC
technical committees collaborate in fields of mutual interest. Other international organizations, governmental
and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO and IEC, also take part in the work. In the field of information
technology, ISO and IEC have established a joint technical committee, ISO/IEC JTC 1.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of the joint technical committee is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the joint technical committee are circulated to national bodies for voting. Publication as
an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the national bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO and IEC shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/IEC 29110-4-1 was prepared by Joint Technical Committee ISO/IEC JTC 1, Information technology,
Subcommittee SC 7, Software and systems engineering.
ISO/IEC 29110 consists of the following parts, under the general title Software engineering — Lifecycle
profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs):
⎯ Part 1: Overview [Technical Report]
⎯ Part 2: Framework and taxonomy
⎯ Part 3: Assessment guide [Technical Report]
⎯ Part 4-1: Profile specifications: Generic profile group
⎯ Part 5-1-2: Management and engineering guide: Generic profile group: Basic profile [Technical Report]
Parts 4 and 5 can be developed to accommodate new profile specifications and management and engineering
guides as follows:
⎯ Part 4-m: Profile specifications: Profile group aaaaa
⎯ Part 5-m-n: Management and engineering guide: Profile group aaaaa: Profile bbbbb [Technical Report]
This first edition of part 4-1 contains the specification for the first profile developed (Basic). As more profiles
are developed, this part will be restructured and amended to accommodate and include multiple specifications.
⎯ Part 4-1: Profile specifications: Generic profile group
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ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
Introduction
The software industry recognizes the value of Very Small Entities (VSEs) in contributing valuable products
and services. For the purpose of ISO/IEC 29110, a Very Small Entity (VSE) is an entity (enterprise,
organization, department or project) having up to 25 people. VSEs also develop and/or maintain software that
is used in larger systems; therefore, recognition of VSEs as suppliers of high quality software is often required.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) SME and
Entrepreneurship Outlook report (2005), ‘SMEs constitute the dominant form of business organisation in all
countries world-wide, accounting for over 95 % and up to 99 % of the business population depending on
country’. The challenge facing OECD governments is to provide a business environment that supports the
competitiveness of this large heterogeneous business population and that promotes a vibrant entrepreneurial
culture.
From studies and surveys conducted, it is clear that the majority of International Standards do not address the
needs of VSEs. Conformance with these standards is difficult, if not impossible, giving VSEs no way, or very
limited ways, to be recognized as entities that produce quality software in their domain. Therefore, VSEs are
often cut off from some economic activities.
It has been found that VSEs find it difficult to relate International Standards to their business needs and to
justify their application to their business practices. Most VSEs can neither afford the resources, in terms of
number of employees, budget and time, nor do they see a net benefit in establishing software lifecycle
processes. To rectify some of these difficulties, a set of guides has been developed according to a set of VSE
characteristics. The guides are based on subsets of appropriate standards elements, referred to as VSE
profiles. The purpose of a VSE profile is to define a subset of International Standards relevant to the VSE
context, for example, processes and outcomes of ISO/IEC 12207 and products of ISO/IEC 15289.
ISO/IEC 29110, targeted by audience, has been developed to improve product and/or service quality, and
process performance. See Table 1. ISO/IEC 29110 is not intended to preclude the use of different life cycles,
such as waterfall, iterative, incremental, evolutionary or agile.
Table 1 — ISO/IEC 29110 target audience
ISO/IEC 29110 Title Target audience
Part 1 Overview VSEs, assessors, standards producers, tool vendors, and
methodology vendors
Part 2 Framework and taxonomy Standards producers, tool vendors and methodology
vendors. Not intended for VSEs.
Part 3 Assessment guide Assessors and VSEs
Part 4 Profile specifications Standards producers, tool vendors and methodology
vendors. Not intended for VSEs.
Part 5 Management and engineering guide VSEs

If a new profile is needed, ISO/IEC 29110-4 and ISO/IEC TR 29110-5 can be developed without impacting
existing documents and they become ISO/IEC 29110-4-m and ISO/IEC 29110-5-m-n, respectively, through
the ISO/IEC process.
ISO/IEC TR 29110-1 defines the business terms common to the VSE Profile Set of Documents. It introduces
processes, lifecycle and standardization concepts, and the ISO/IEC 29110 series. It also introduces the
characteristics and requirements of a VSE, and clarifies the rationale for VSE-specific profiles, documents,
standards and guides.
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ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
ISO/IEC 29110-2 introduces the concepts for software engineering standardized profiles for VSEs, and
defines the terms common to the VSE Profile Set of Documents. It establishes the logic behind the definition
and application of standardized profiles. It specifies the elements common to all standardized profiles
(structure, conformance, assessment) and introduces the taxonomy (catalogue) of ISO/IEC 29110 profiles.
ISO/IEC TR 29110-3 defines the process assessment guidelines and compliance requirements needed to
meet the purpose of the defined VSE Profiles. ISO/IEC TR 29110-3 also contains information that can be
useful to developers of assessment methods and assessment tools. ISO/IEC TR 29110-3 is addressed to
people who have direct relation with the assessment process, e.g. the assessor and the sponsor of the
assessment, who need guidance on ensuring that the requirements for performing an assessment have been
met.
This part of ISO/IEC 29110 provides the specification for all the profiles of the Generic Profile Group. The
Generic Profile Group is applicable to VSEs that do not develop critical software products. The profiles are
based on subsets of appropriate standards elements. VSE Profiles apply and are targeted at
authors/providers of guides and authors/providers of tools and other support material.
ISO/IEC TR 29110-5-m-n provides an implementation management and engineering guide for the VSE Profile
described in ISO/IEC 29110-4-m.
Figure 1 describes the ISO/IEC 29110 series and positions the parts within the framework of reference.
Overviews and guides are published as Technical Reports (TR), and profiles are published as International
Standards (IS).
29110 Overview (TR 29110-1)
29110 Profiles (IS)
Framework and Taxonomy (IS 29110-2)
Specifications of VSE Profiles (IS 29110-4)
Specification - VSE Profile Group m
Specification - VSE Profile Group m
(IS 29110-4-m)
(IS 29110-4-m)
29110 Guides (TR)
Assessment Guide (TR 29110-3)
Management and Engineering Guide (TR 29110-5)
Management and
Management and
Engineering Guide
Engineering Guide
VSE Profile m-n
VSE Profile m-n
(TR 29110-5-m-n)
(TR 29110-5-m-n)

Figure 1 — ISO/IEC 29110 series

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)

Software engineering — Lifecycle profiles for Very Small
Entities (VSEs) —
Part 4-1:
Profile specifications: Generic profile group
1 Scope
1.1 Fields of application
ISO/IEC 29110 is applicable to Very Small Entities (VSEs). VSEs are enterprises, organizations, departments
or projects up to 25 people. The lifecycle processes described in ISO/IEC 29110 are not intended to preclude
or discourage their use by organizations bigger than VSEs.
The lifecycle processes defined in ISO/IEC 29110 can be used by VSEs when acquiring and using, as well as
when creating and supplying, a software system. They can be applied at any level in a software system’s
structure and at any stage in the lifecycle. The processes described in ISO/IEC 29110 are not intended to
preclude or discourage the use of additional processes that VSEs find useful.
This part of ISO/IEC 29110 provides a profile specification for the Basic VSE Profile within the Generic Profile
Group. The Basic VSE Profile applies to VSEs involved in software development. It selects ISO/IEC 12207
project management and software implementation process elements and ISO/IEC 15289:2006 products from
the single project perspective.
Its purpose is to provide the normative and informative links to the subset of ISO/IEC 12207 and
ISO/IEC 15289:2006.
1.2 Target audience
This part of ISO/IEC 29110 is targeted at assessors, VSEs that want to claim conformance, authors/providers
of guides, and authors/providers of tools and other support material.
2 Conformance
2.1 Conformance situations
This part of ISO/IEC 29110 can be implemented by
⎯ developers of products that facilitate the implementation and the use of this part of ISO/IEC 29110 within
organizations;
NOTE Examples of such products are methods, courses, teaching aids, tools, and forms.
⎯ organizations or projects implementing and using the processes and products prescribed by this part of
ISO/IEC 29110.
Therefore, conformance can be claimed by developers of products and organizations, with different
interpretations, and different conformity assessment methods.
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ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
It can be attested by a third party. It can be mandated as part of procurement and contractual processes
2.2 Conformance to this part of ISO/IEC 29110
A VSE that claims conformance to this part of ISO/IEC 29110 shall implement and use all the mandatory
profile elements as identified in Clause 7, and the associated properties and requirements as described in the
base standards when applicable.
Conformance is achieved by demonstrating that
⎯ mandatory requirements for the lifecycle products (information items) have been satisfied using the
content of conformant work products as evidence,
⎯ mandatory requirements for the lifecycle processes have been satisfied using the objectives (outcomes)
and products as evidence.
Conformance to this part of ISO/IEC 29110 implies conformance to ISO/IEC 12207 and ISO/IEC 15289:2006,
as per their conformance clause that allows partial or tailored conformance.
A product that claims conformance to this part of ISO/IEC 29110 shall implement all the mandatory profile
elements as identified in Clause 7, and the associated properties and requirements as described in the base
standards when applicable. Conformance is achieved by demonstrating that the conforming product does not
exclude, modify or contradict any of the mandatory profile elements.
3 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO/IEC TR 29110-1, Software engineering — Lifecycle profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) — Part 1:
Overview
ISO/IEC 29110-2, Software engineering — Lifecycle profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) — Part 2:
Framework and taxonomy
ISO/IEC 12207:2008, Systems and software engineering — Software life cycle processes
ISO/IEC 15289:2006, Systems and software engineering — Content of systems and software life cycle
process information products (Documentation)
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO/IEC TR 29110-1 apply.
5 Conventions and abbreviated terms
5.1 Naming, diagramming and definition conventions
Conventions for naming, diagramming, describing and defining VSE Profiles are defined in ISO/IEC 29110-2.
5.2 Abbreviations
VSE Very Small Entity
VSEs Very Small Entities
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ISO/IEC 29110-4-1:2011(E)
6 Description of the Basic VSE Profile
6.1 Preparation of the Basic VSE Profile
The purpose of the Basic VSE Profile is to define a subset of processes and outcomes of ISO/IEC 12207 and
products of ISO/IEC 15289:2006 for software implementation and project management. The main reasons to
include software implementation and project management are that the VSE core business is software
development and their financial success depends on successful project completion within schedule and
budget.
The preparation of the Basic VSE Profile follows the next steps:
a) The recognition of VSE characteristics related to: finance, resources, customer interface, internal
business processes, learning and growth.
b) The identification of VSE needs and suggested Competencies that derives from those characteristics.
c) The specification of the Basic VSE Profile elements proper to respond to the VSE needs and suggested
Competencies according to ISO/IEC 29110-2.
d) The selection and link of the subset of the Basic VSE Profile elements that map to the ISO/IEC 12207
processes and outcomes elements and ISO/IEC 15289:2006 product elements related to the Basic VSE
Profile elements.
e) The definition of the Basic VSE Profile Guides: ISO/IEC TR 29110-5-1-2, Management and Engineering
Guide for the implementation of Basic VSE Profile.
Figure 2 illustrates the steps to prepare the Basic VSE Profile.

VSE
a)
Characteristics
derives
Base Standard
VSE Needs and Competencies
b)
ISO/IEC 12207
Elements
responds
included
d)
based on
ISO/IEC 29110-2
ISO/IEC 29110-4-1
VSE profile framewor
...