Web-Based Applications quality factors: A survey and a proposed conceptual model

Web-Based Applications (WBA) are fast becoming more widespread, larger, more interactive, and more essential to the international use of computers. The most successful WBA companies are beginning to realize that key critical factors of success or failure of any WBA must be highly dependable on delivering on a high quality web site. To attain the desired quality of WBA, it is necessary to suggest a model that organizes and enables the identification of WBA quality perspectives. This paper addresses WBA quality model and categorizes its quality factors. The software is an essential part of any WBA. ISO9126 standard for software engineering product quality states that the main purpose of software quality evaluation is to provide quantitative reference for software products evaluation that is reliable, understandable, and acceptable. The main weakness point here is the lack of a formal specification of key factors for WBA quality. Traditional quality models are not adequate for WBA because they do not address all problems associated with the new features of WBA. Therefore, ISO9126 and different quality models of software were investigated and partially used as an initial step to identify a conceptual quality model for WBA. WBA have common characteristics with traditional software packages, and other distinct characteristics that are particular to WBA. In this paper a proposed conceptual quality model to organize WBA quality factors in terms of its sub factors was identified. In addition, the proposed conceptual quality model effectively reflects the main views of WBA based on the opinion of highly skilled professionals (visitor, owner, end user). The main goal of this paper is identifying, categorizing, and modeling WBA quality factors.