This course designed to provide a comprehensive knowledge base and practical skills for anyone interested in implementing or improving Software Quality Auditing techniques and practices in their organization and/or in establishing a Software Quality Audit Program. This course starts with an overview of software auditing basics, including a discussion of quality concepts, terms and definitions, the definition of an audit, a discussion of the benefits and consequences of conducting audits and of professional conduct. The different types of audits are described, the audit process is introduced, and industry standards and models related to audits are surveyed.

Course attendees will learn what is involved in initiating an audit, including the verification of the audit entry criteria, the definition of the audit’s scope and purpose, and determination of the audit’s inputs. The audit planning responsibilities of the auditor management and lead auditor are discussed. Audit strategies and estimation considerations are reviewed, and the contents of an audit plan are outlined.

Attendees will learn how to prepare for an audit by conducting a documentation review and creating audit tools, including a checklist, a plan for verifying each checklist item and interview questions. Attendees will practice executing an audit by holding opening and closing meetings, gathering objective evidence and documenting audit findings. Attendees will learn how to document the results of an audit in an audit report and what records should be retained for each audit.

This course defines the steps in creating a corrective action plan to address the finding of an audit and the evaluation, verification and follow-up of those corrective actions. This course ends with reviewing the administration of an audit program, defining the audit processes for an organization and discussing issues related to audit personnel.

Upon completion of the course the attendees will be able to: 

• Understand the basic concepts and terminology of software auditing
• Effectively plan a software audit once it has been properly initiated
• Prepare for a software audit and perform a document review
• Execute a software audit and gather objective evidence
• Document the software audit results in an audit report
• Evaluate corrective action plans and follow-up on software audit findings
• Establish a comprehensive software audit program for your organization

This course is taught through lecture and interactive discussion. Actual examples from the software industry are utilized to make the information relevant. Throughout this course, learned skills are practiced using team exercises.