Validating the external quality subcharacteristics of software products according to ISO/IEC 9126

The study statistically tests the proposition of the ISO/IEC 9126 standard that higher external quality (quality when software is executed) implies higher ‘quality in use’. For this purpose, the study based on 75 user survey data shows that individual external quality subcharacteristics are positively associated with user satisfaction as defined in ‘quality in use’. This study also investigates the external quality subcharacteristics that strongly influence user satisfaction. Our results provide guidance for the revision of the Standard as well as supporting management decisions (i.e., resource allocation) aimed at improving software product quality.