IVVs

Independent Verification and Validation (IVV) is a quality-assurance practice used in software and systems engineering to assess whether a product, system, or service satisfies its requirements and will operate effectively in its intended environment. IVV is performed by an independent team or organization not responsible for development, providing an objective evaluation beyond the vendor’s own verification activities.

The scope covers verification (did we build the product right?) and validation (did we build the right product?), across requirements analysis, architecture and design reviews, code and unit testing, integration testing, system testing, and nonfunctional attributes such as safety, security, reliability, and interoperability. Activities may also include formal methods, simulations, human factors review, and compliance assessment with industry standards.

Independence is central; IVV providers are external to or segregated from the development organization. IVV is common in safety-critical sectors such as aerospace, defense, automotive, medical devices, and government programs. Standards referenced include DO-178C/DO-254 for aviation software and hardware, ISO/IEC 12207/15288 for lifecycle processes, IEC 61508 for functional safety, and sector-specific guidelines. In medical devices, FDA and ISO 14971 risk management requirements often drive IVV activities.

Process and outputs typically include an IVV plan, evidence repository, defect and risk reports, traceability analyses, and an IVV report concluding compliance status and recommended mitigations. Benefits include enhanced objectivity, early defect discovery, and support for certification and regulatory acceptance; drawbacks can include cost, schedule impact, and potential overlap with internal quality assurance if not well scoped.