Answer: Target Audience
The target audience for ISO/IEC 12207 is:
Organizations acquiring a system that contains software or a stand-alone software product
Organizations that supply software products
Organizations involved in software operation or software maintenance
The standard is especially applicable for acquisitions, as it recognizes the distinct roles of acquirer and supplier. Its intended use is for the two parties of an agreement or contract that defines the development, maintenance, or operation of software. It does not apply to the purchase of commercial off-the-shelf software products. It is also intended for use with trained, experienced developers, managers, and acquirers of software.
Views of Software Development
Given the target audience, ISO/IEC 12207 includes several different points of view regarding software development:
Acquirers and suppliers see a contract view, which includes the acquisition and supply processes and begins with a contractual relationship to supply software. Depending on the contract, the supply process may use the development process to create new software, the operation process to provide software operation services, or the maintenance process to repair or improve the software.
Operators see an operating view, which includes the operations process. The operations process may use the maintenance process.
Developers and maintainers see the engineering view, which includes the maintenance and development processes. The maintenance process may also use the development process.
The employer of supporting processes sees the supporting view, which includes the eight supporting processes.
Managers see the corporate view, which includes the four organizational processes.
