IEEE/ISO/IEC 15289-2011

This International Standard specifies the purpose and content of all identified systems and software life cycle and service management information items (documentation). The information item contents are defined according to generic document types, as presented in Clause 7, and the specific purpose of the document (Clause 10). This International Standard (IS) assumes an organization is implementing life cycle processes in conformance with ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008, Systems and software engineering - System life cycle processes, or ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2008, Systems and software engineering - Software life cycle processes, or practicing Service Management in conformance with in ISO/IEC 20000-1:2005, Information technology -- Service management -- Part 1: Specification; and ISO/IEC 20000-2:2005, Information technology -- Service management -- Part 2: Code of practice. ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2008 and ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008 define a set of processes for managing and performing the stages of a systems life cycle. They define an Information Management process, but they do "not detail documentation in terms of name, format, explicit content, and recording media" (ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008, clause 1.4). ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2008 establishes a common framework for software life cycle processes and in passing identifies or requires a number of documentation items. The Process Reference Model does not represent a particular process implementation approach nor does it prescribe a system/software life cycle model, methodology, or technique. ISO 20000-1:2005 establishes general requirements for documents and records (3.2). ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2008 does not always specify when software information items are to be prepared, nor does it identify information item contents. This International Standard provides a mapping of ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008 and ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2008 clauses with a set of information items. The generic document types (which may be referred to as information item types) are to be used to identify the information necessary to support the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008 agreement, enterprise, project, and technical processes; the ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2008, primary, supporting, and organizational life cycle processes, or the ISO/IEC 20000-1:2005 Service Management processes. This International Standard identifies records and information items based on analysis of references in ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008, ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2008, and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2005 and 20000-2:2005, which in some cases provide partial or complete outlines for the content of specific documents. However, the requirements for the life-cycle processes do not uniquely and unambiguously state the requirements for the information items contents or the information needed by a user of an information item. Moreover, the information from the life-cycle processes may overlap or may be created and revised at different times. In short, the analyzed references do not result in a logically complete list of information items. For each life-cycle process, it would be possible to prepare a plan, procedures, and reports, as well as numerous records, requests, descriptions and specifications. Such an elaboration of the documentation schema would be more rigorous than specified by ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008 or ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207:2008. As ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2008 points out (1.4), "This International Standard does not detail the life cycle processes in terms of methods or procedures required to meet the requirements and outcomes of a process." Thus, information items may be combined or subdivided as needed for project or organizational purposes, as further defined in Clause 2, Applicability, and Clause 3, Conformance.

The purpose of this International Standard is to provide requirements for users of ISO/IEC 12207:2008 (IEEE Std 12207-2008), ISO/IEC 15288:2008 (IEEE Std 15288-2008) and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2005 for identifying and planning the specific information items (information products) to be developed and revised during systems and software life cycles and service processes. This International Standard is intended for use as follows. a) To address the technical information needed by those involved in ISO/IEC 15288:2008 (IEEE Std 15288-2008) and ISO/IEC 12207:2008 (IEEE Std 12207-2008) processes. b) To specify information in an agreement process as described in ISO/IEC 15288:2008 (IEEE Std 15288-2008) or a two-party situation as described in ISO/IEC 12207:2008 (IEEE Std 12207-2008), ISO/IEC 20000-1:2005 and ISO/IEC 20000-2:2005. The two-party situation may range from an informal agreement within an organization to a legally binding contract between organizations. c) To develop information items that provide evidence for process assessment performed with respect to ISO/IEC 15504, and to guide process improvement activities. d) To guide a single party in self-imposed tasks.

Revision Standard - Superseded. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15289:2011 provides requirements for identifying and planning the specific information items (information products, documentation) to be developed and revised during systems and software life cycles and service processes. It specifies the purpose and content of all identified systems and software data records and life cycle information items, as well as records and information items for information technology service management. The information item contents are defined according to generic document types (description, plan, policy, procedure, report, request, and specification) and the specific purpose of the document. For simplicity of reference, each information item is described as if it were published as a separate document. However, information items may be unpublished but available in a repository for reference, divided into separate documents or volumes, or combined with other information items into one document. ISO/IEC/IEEE 15289:2011 is based on the life cycle processes specified in ISO/IEC 12207:2008 (IEEE Std 12207-2008) and ISO/IEC 15288:2008 (IEEE Std 15288-2008), and the service management processes specified in ISO/IEC 20000-1:2005 and ISO/IEC 20000-2:2005.