Developing quality heathcare software using quality function deployment: A case study based on Sultan Qaboos University Hospital

Ahmed, Mohiuddin and Islam, Rafikul and Alwahaibi, Salim Khloof (2006): Developing quality heathcare software using quality function deployment: A case study based on Sultan Qaboos University Hospital. Published in: International Journal of Business Information Systems , Vol. 1, No. 4 (2006): pp. 408-425.

Abstract

Development of software is one of the most expensive projects undertaken in practice. Traditionally, the rate of failure in software development projects is higher compared to other kinds of projects. This is partly due to the failure in determining software users’ requirements. By using Quality Function Deployment (QFD), this research focuses on identification and prioritization of users’ requirements in the context of developing quality health-care software system for Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in Oman. A total of 95 staff working at eight departments of SQUH were contacted and they were requested to provide their requirements in using hospital information systems. Analytic Hierarchy Process has been integrated with QFD for prioritizing those user requirements. Then, in consultation with a number of software engineers, a list consisting of 30 technical requirements was generated. These requirements are divided into seven categories and all of them are purported to satisfy the user needs. At the end of QFD exercise, continuous mirror backup from backup category, multi-level access from the security and confidentiality category, linkage to databases from application category emerge as technical requirements having higher weights. These technical requirements should receive considerable attention when designing the health-care software system for SQUH.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Software quality; Quality function deployment; Healthcare software; Analytic Hierarchy Process
• Subjects: L - Industrial Organization > L1 - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance > L15 - Information and Product Quality ; Standardization and Compatibility; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M1 - Business Administration > M10 - General

References

[1] Wen C. Pai. “A Quality Enhancing Software Function Deployment Model”, Information Systems Management, pp. 20-24, 2002.

[2] S. Haag, M.K. Raja, & L.L. Schkade. “Quality Function Deployment Usage in Software Development”, Communications of the ACM, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 42-49, 1996.

[3] K.C.Tan, M. Xie., & E. Chia. “Quality Function Deployment and its Use in Designing Information Technology Systems”, International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol.15, No.6, pp. 634-645, 1998.

[4] William D. Barnett, & M.K. Raja. “Application of QFD to the Software Development Process”. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 24-42, 1995.

[5] M. Ross, C.A. Brebbia, G. Staples, & J. Stapleton. Software Quality Management, Vol. 2, Measuring and Maintaining Quality, Computational Mechanics Publications, Glasgow, UK, 1995.

[6] Joseph Berk, & Susan Berk. Management for the Technology Sector. Butterworth-Heinemann, MA, USA, 2000.

[7] Ronan Fitzpatrick. “Strategic Drivers of Software Quality: Beyond External and Internal Software Quality”, Proceedings of the Second Asia-Pacific Conference on Quality Software, Hong Kong, pp.65-72, 2001.

[8] James L. Bossert. Quality Function Deployment: A Practitioner’s Approach. ASQC Quality Press, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ISBN 0-8247-8378-6, 1991.

[9] John Terninko. Step-By-Step QFD: Customer-Driven Product Design, ,2nd ed., St. Lucie Press, Florida,ISBN 1-57444-110-8, 1997.

[10] Jaideep Motwani, & Yunus Kathawala. “Implementing Quality Function Deployment: A Systems Approach”, Total Quality Management Magazine, Vol. 6, No. 6, pp. 31-35, 1994.

[11] Fiorenzo Franceschini, & Marco Terzago. “An Application of Quality Function Deployment to Industrial Training Courses”, International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 15, No. 7, pp. 753-768, 1998.

[12] Donald S. Ermer, & Mark K. Kniper. “Delighting the Customer: Quality Function Deployment for Quality Service Design”, Total Quality Management, Vol. 9, No. 4 & 5, pp. S86-S91, 1998.

[13] Abdul Rahman Hamza, C.L. Kwan, & Peter C. Woods. “Quality Function Deployment in Construction Design: Application in Low-Cost Housing Design”, International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 591-605, 1999.

[14] T.L. Saaty. “A Sealing Method for Priorities in Hierarchical Structures”, Journal of Mathematical Psychology, Vol. 15, pp. 234-281, 1977.

[15] Rafikul Islam, The Analytic Hierarchy Process: An Effective Multi Criteria Decision Making Tool, Research center, International Islamic University Malaysia, ISBN 983-9727-85-0, 2003.

[16] G. B. Crawford. “The Geometric Mean Procedure for Estimating the Scale of a Judgment Matrix”, Mathematical Modeling, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 327-334, 1987.

[17] I. Basak & T.L. Saaty. “Group Decision Making Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process”, Mathematical and Computers Modeling, Vol. 17, pp. 101-109, 1993.