P RE - PROJECT P RE - PROJECT SOFTWARE QUALITY COMPONENTS Dr. Ahmad F. Shubita

1. C ONTRACT REVIEW A bad contract is always an undesirable event. viewpoint of SQA loosely defined requirements, and unrealistic budgets and schedules From the viewpoint of SQA a bad contract – usually characterized by loosely defined requirements, and unrealistic budgets and schedules – is expected to yield low-quality software. developed to guide review drafts of proposal and contract documents. Contract review is the SQA component developed to guide review drafts of proposal and contract documents.

T HE CONTRACT REVIEW PROCESS AND ITS STAGES  The review process is conducted in two stages: Stage One Stage One – Review of the proposal draft prior to submission to the potential customer (“proposal draft review”). This stage reviews the final proposal draft and the proposal’s foundations: 1) Customer’s requirement documents, 2) Customer’s additional details and explanations of the requirements, 3) Cost and resources estimates, 4) Existing contracts or contract drafts of the supplier with partners and subcontractors.

T HE CONTRACT REVIEW PROCESS AND ITS STAGES Stage Two Stage Two – Review of contract draft prior to signing (“contract draft review”). This stage reviews the contract draft on the basis of the proposal and the understandings (including changes) reached during the contract negotiations sessions.

T HE CONTRACT REVIEW PROCESS AND ITS STAGES begin once the relevant draft document has been completed examine the draft while referring to a comprehensive range of review subjects. The processes of review can begin once the relevant draft document has been completed. The individuals who perform the review thoroughly examine the draft while referring to a comprehensive range of review subjects. A checklist is very helpful A checklist is very helpful for assuring the full coverage of relevant subjects. necessary changes, additions and corrections are introduced proposal team (after the proposal draft review) and by the legal department (after the contract draft review). After the completion of a review stage it is required that the necessary changes, additions and corrections are introduced by the proposal team (after the proposal draft review) and by the legal department (after the contract draft review).

C ONTRACT REVIEW OBJECTIVES Proposal draft review objectives :  The objectives of the proposal draft review are to make sure that the following activities have been completed satisfactorily: Customer requirements have been clarified and documented. Alternatives for carrying out the project have been examined. A formal relationship with the customer has been defined. Development risks have been identified. Resources and schedules for the project have been adequately estimated. The company’s capacity to perform the project has been examined. The customer’s capacity to fulfill his commitments has been examined.. Partner and subcontractor participation has been defined.

C ONTRACT REVIEW OBJECTIVES - C ONTRACT DRAFT REVIEW OBJECTIVES  Contract draft review objectives :  The contract draft review objectives is to make sure the following activities have been satisfactorily carried out: No unclarified issues remain in the contract draft. All understandings reached subsequent to the proposal are correctly documented. No “new” changes, additions, or omissions have entered the contract draft.

W HO PERFORMS W HO PERFORMS A CONTRACT REVIEW ?  The task of contract review  The task of contract review can be completed by various individuals, listed here in ascending order, according to the complexity of the project: The leader The leader or another member of the proposal team. The members of the proposal team The members of the proposal team. An outside professional An outside professional or a company staff member who is not a member of the proposal team. A team of outside experts. A team of outside experts. Usually, a contract review team composed of outside experts is called in, especially for big proposals.

R ECOMMENDATION FOR IMPLEMENTING CONTRACT REVIEWS The contract review should be scheduled. Contract review activities should be included in the proposal preparation schedule, leaving sufficient time for the review and the ensuing corrections to be made. A team should carry out the contract review. preparing a written report Teamwork makes it possible to distribute the workload among the team members so that each member of the contract review team can find sufficient time to do his or her share (which may include preparing a written report that summarizes his or her recommendations). A contract review team leader should be appointed. It is important that the responsibility for organizing, managing and controlling the contract review activities be defined, preferable by appointing a team leader.

QUIZ 1 1. What are the stages of the contract review process? 2. Briefly describe the Classes of SQA System Components.