Overview
ISO/IEC 29110-1-2:2024 - "Systems and software engineering - Lifecycle profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) - Part 1-2: Vocabulary" is the vocabulary component of the ISO/IEC 29110 series. This first-edition International Standard (May 2024) defines the terms common to the ISO/IEC 29110 lifecycle profile family. It is specifically tailored for Very Small Entities (VSEs) (organizations up to 25 people) and the ecosystem that works with them: customers, assessors, standards producers, tool vendors and methodology vendors.
The document provides a consistent terminology baseline to support understanding, adaptation and assessment of lifecycle profiles aimed at VSEs. Its contents include scope, normative references (none), a comprehensive list of terms and definitions, bibliography and index.
Key topics and technical focus
- Core vocabulary for lifecycle profiles: Definitions of terms used across the ISO/IEC 29110 series (e.g., activity, acquirer, profile types such as Basic and Advanced, agile development, assessment indicator, auditor/assessor, baseline, backlog).
- Profile taxonomy language: Terms that distinguish profile types and their intended targets (Basic profile for single-team single-product VSEs; Advanced profile for growing competitive organizations).
- Assessment and conformity terms: Vocabulary to support audits, assessments, certification schemes, assessors and audit teams.
- Agile and lifecycle concepts: Standardized definitions for agile-related terms (agile team, backlog, burndown chart) and life‑cycle artifacts (build, baseline, work product).
- Cross-reference to established standards: Terms are sourced from or aligned with ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207, ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288, ISO/IEC/IEEE 26511/26515, ISO 19011 and ISO/IEC 33001 where applicable.
Practical applications
- Provides a single, authoritative glossary so VSEs, consultants and auditors interpret ISO/IEC 29110 parts consistently.
- Simplifies profile adoption and tailoring by ensuring stakeholders share the same conceptual definitions before implementing processes or tools.
- Facilitates assessment and certification processes by clarifying terms used in audits, conformity assessments and certification schemes.
- Supports tool and methodology vendors in aligning product terminology with the ISO/IEC 29110 profile family, improving interoperability and documentation quality.
Who should use this standard
- Very Small Entities (VSEs) adopting ISO/IEC 29110 profiles
- Customers procuring systems or software from VSEs
- Assessors, auditors and certification bodies involved in VSE assessments
- Standards producers, tool vendors and methodology consultants who implement or support lifecycle profiles for VSEs
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 29110 family (Parts 1-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
- ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207, ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288, ISO/IEC/IEEE 15289
- ISO/IEC 33001, ISO 19011, ISO/IEC/IEEE 26511/26515
This vocabulary standard is the recommended first read for anyone exploring ISO/IEC 29110 profiles, ensuring consistent interpretation across implementation, assessment and tool support for systems and software engineering in VSE contexts.
Open preview (PDF)Systems and software engineering — Lifecycle profiles for Very Small Entities (VSEs) — Part 1-2: Vocabulary