EAI Endorsed Transactions on Scalable Information Systems Research Article 1 EAI Endorsed Transactions on Scalable Information Systems Online First Software quality models: Exploratory review Lloy Pinedo 1* , Miguel Valles-Coral 1 , Jorge Raul Navarro-Cabrera 1 , Richard Injante 1 , Ángel Cárdenas- García 1 , Fernando Ruiz-Saavedra 1 , Cecilia García-Rivas-Plata 2 and César Augusto Flores-Tananta 3 1 Universidad Nacional de San Martin, Tarapoto, Peru 2 Universidad Nacional Jose Maria Arguedas, Andahuaylas, Peru 3 Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Tarapoto, Peru Abstract INTRODUCTION: The emerging industrialization of software promotes the continuous development of new evaluation models that adapt to the product's characteristics and the organizations' needs. OBJECTIVES: This article aims to identify the software quality models proposed between 2016 and 2020. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory systematic review in the SciELO, IEEE Xplore, and Scopus databases, resulting in 14 research papers proposing new models for assessing software quality. RESULTS: 79% of the research papers were extracted from IEEE Xplore, and 50% of them were authored by individuals affiliated with European institutions. We presented various software quality models focused on assessing both product quality and usability for specific purposes. Additionally, we reported that the proposed models are based on common software quality metrics standards such as CMMI, ISO/IEC 9126, and others. CONCLUSION: The review serves to update the state of the art regarding the software quality models proposed in recent years, which will be valuable for researchers and software developers when seeking evaluation models that align with their specific needs. Keywords: product quality, quality of use, quality standards, software development, systematic review Received on 12 March 2023, accepted on 15 September 2023, published on 26 September 2023 Copyright © 2023 Pinedo et al., licensed to EAI. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC BY-NC-SA 4.0, which permits copying, redistributing, remixing, transformation, and building upon the material in any medium so long as the original work is properly cited. doi: 10.4108/eetsis.3982 1. Introduction Callejas-Cuervo et al. [1] point out that the term "Software Quality" refers to the performance that a computer system must uphold throughout its lifecycle to ensure the efficiency of its functionalities. In a similar vein, Toro et al. [2] mention that software quality determines the success of companies that are currently striving for innovation and continuous improvement. Hence, the significance of the attention given to this subject. This is why assessing the quality of software products has become a strategic element for organizations due to the impact it has on the competitiveness of developing companies. As a result, various models have been proposed to accommodate the size of companies and provide * Corresponding author. Email: lpinedo@unsm.edu.pe attributes for the evaluation and selection of software based on compliance with quality metrics [3]. According to Akbar et al. [4], developing high-quality software not only satisfies customer expectations but also benefits the organization by meeting production goals within the planned timeframe and cost estimates. To achieve this, as suggested by Quiroz-Martínez et al. [5], it is essential to prioritize the identification of requirements that determine the functionalities to be included in the product, considering key factors to meet software quality criteria. On the other hand, certification processes issued by institutions based on quality standards for software products ensure efficiency, effectiveness, and add value to the products. They also instill confidence in customers and provide predictability in work. Therefore, their