Risking the software organization

The longer a software bug goes undetected the more costly it is to identify and eradicate.”

This statement has become almost an adage for software developers. It's accepted almost without question because developers live daily with the associated risks of latent problems in software.

Software problems identified after compiling an application can halt development and take hundreds of developer hours to identify and correct -- with the solution often causing additional problems. Problems that remain hidden until users find them not only cause customers inconvenience and expense, they can also result in PR nightmares that threaten the developer's profitability. If a magazine reviewer identifies a serious problem, not only will the company's reputation be threatened, the success of the product might be at risk.