Distinguishing features that may be quantitative or qualitative. A characteristic may be inherent or assigned. Where pertinent characteristics could be classified under categories e.g. physical, sensory, behavioural, temporal, ergonomic, functional etc. (adapted from EN ISO 9000-2000).

Afeature or set of features which describe uniquely identifiable need/s of a user. For example resolution of complaints would be a criterion but not a parameter (see parameter for definition).

An entity is an item (part, device, functional unit, system or subsystem) that can be individually described and considered. It can also be a product , a process , or an organisation .

A group or collection of distinguishing capabilities that have a logical meaning.

Unit in which a parameter is expressed in. For example the error rate may be expressed in number of errors per second.

A criterion defined unambiguously and with defined boundaries and with measure/s in which the parameter may be specified. For example the parameter time time for resolution of complaints may be expressed in terms of working time or calendar time, including or excluding holiday time, instant of commencement of effective time, instant of ending of effective time and other pertinent factors. The definition for a parameter would be definitive and not open to different interpretations by different people.

A set of functions offered by an organisation to enable the user to make and transfer information over a telecommunication connection between two points A and B. A given set of such...