Formation of an Optimal Set of Software in Educational Organizations

The problem of determining the nomenclature of the optimal set of application software (software) necessary for the implementation of educational programs in higher educational institutions (HEI) by quantifying its quality is considered. Aim. Development of a mechanism for a comprehensive assessment of the quality of software within the selected class, to simplify the task of making an informed decision when choosing a standard set of universities. Materials and methods. The proposed mechanism is based on the use of optimization methods and expert assessments. At the first stage of the mechanism, the basic requirements are clarified, taking into account the specifics of the work of the educational organization. A set of programs (alternatives) for the selected software class is formed, with the subsequent determination of the key functions characteristic of it on the basis of expert information. Further, according to the software quality indicators proposed in the work, they are evaluated for each alternative. Software quality indicators are a hierarchical three-level system (criterion, metric, evaluation element), in which the indicators of the higher levels are determined through the indicators of the lower levels. The integral assessment of the quality of an alternative is defined as the sum of the estimates of its quality criteria. At the final stage, the problem of integer linear programming is solved to determine the optimal range of alternatives within the corresponding software class, based on their conditions: maximizing the quality of an alternative contai¬ning the required set of functions, and minimizing their number. Results. The mechanism of determining the optimal alternatives for the formation of a standard set of software, in order to implement the necessary educational programs of the university, is considered. The main indicators of software quality and the mathematical apparatus for their assessment are formalized. Conclusion. The proposed mechanism allows for a quantitative assessment of the quality of software within its class, with the subsequent selection of the most rational software tools for the university. Such an asses¬sment will simplify the task of making an informed decision when forming a standard set of software necessary for implementing the requirements of federal educational standards, and in general will increase the effectiveness of the system for coordinating informatization in this direction.