Maintenance Methods

Maintenance Methods

1. Perfective

   • Improving the performance of the software.
   • E.g. Configuring the network management software to improve performance such as improving access times to data, speed at which reports are produced, etc.
   • Software may need to be modified to improve the user interface upon feedback from users who are finding it more difficult to use than it needs to be.
   • Developing on-line tutorials and more help screens to help new staff learn the software.
   • The software provider provides upgrades which will improve the performance of the software.

2. Corrective

   • Bugs in the software which were not discovered during testing may need correcting.
   • E.g. A piece of software may crash when being used with another piece of software or a piece of software may crash when used with a particular item of hardware.
   • E.g. Software may present a security risk which needs correcting.
   • E.g. Problems with reports not being printed out properly.

3. Adaptive

   • Software may need to be changed owing to the changing needs of the business or organisation.
   • E.g. Software may need altering so that it is more flexible in supplying the managers with information which was not envisaged at the time of development.
   • E.g. Changes to values such as the percentage rate of VAT or changes to income tax rates will result in changes to the software.
   • E.g. The organisation expands so the software needs to be altered so it is able to cope with the increased number of users.
   • E.g. Adapting the software to work with newly developed operating systems software or new hardware OR to cope with a new virus threat.