Effective Methods for Software Testing, 3/e

• Written by the founder and executive director of the Quality Assurance Institute, which sponsors the most widely accepted certification program for software testing
• Software testing is a weak spot for most developers, and many have no system in place to find and correct defects quickly and efficiently
• This comprehensive resource provides step-by-step guidelines, checklists, and templates for each testing activity, as well as a self-assessment that helps readers identify the sections of the book that respond to their individual needs
• Covers the latest regulatory developments affecting software testing, including Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404, and provides guidelines for agile testing and testing for security, internal controls, and data warehouses
• CD-ROM with all checklists and templates saves testers countless hours of developing their own test documentation

• Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

 

Table of Contents

Introduction.

Part I:  Assessing Testing Capabilities and Competencies.

Chapter 1: Assessing Capabilities, Staff Competency, and User Satisfaction.

The Three-Step Process to Becoming a World-Class Testing Organization.

Step 1: Define a World-Class Software Testing Model.

Step 2: Develop Baselines for Your Organization.

Assessment 1: Assessing the Test Environment.

Assessment 2: Assessing the Capabilities of Your Existing.Test Processes.

Assessment 3: Assessing the Competency of Your Testers.

Step 3: Develop an Improvement Plan.

Summary.

Part II:  Building a Software Testing Environment.

Chapter 2: Creating an Environment Supportive of Software Testing.

Chapter 3: Building the Software Testing Process.

Software Testing Guidelines.

Guideline #1: Testing Should Reduce Software Development.

Guideline #2: Testing Should Be Performed Effectively.

Guideline #3: Testing Should Uncover Defects.

Guideline #4: Testing Should Be Performed Using Business Logic.

Guideline #5: Testing Should Occur Throughout the Development Life Cycle.

Guideline #6: Testing Should Test Both Function and Structure.

Chapter 4: Selecting and Installing Software Testing Tools.

Chapter 5: Building Software Tester Competency.

Part III: The Seven-Step Testing Process.

Chapter 6: Overview of the Software Testing Process.

Chapter 7: Step 1: Organizing for Testing.

Task 1: Appoint the Test Manager.

Task 2: Define the Scope of Testing.

Task 3: Appoint the Test Team.

Task 4: Verify the Development Documentation.

Task 5: Validate the Test Estimate and Project Status.

Chapter 8: Step 2: Developing the Test Plan.

Task 1: Profile the Software Project.

Task 2: Understand the Project Risks.

Task 3: Select a Testing Technique.

Task 4: Plan Unit Testing and Analysis.

Task 5: Build the Test Plan.

Task 6: Inspect the Test Plan.

Chapter 9: Step 3: Verification Testing.

Task 1: Test During the Requirements Phase.

Task 2: Test During the Design Phase.

Task 3: Test During the Programming Phase.

Chapter 10: Step 4: Validation Testing.

Task 1: Build the Test Data.

Task 2: Execute Tests.

Task 3: Record Test Results.

Chapter 11: Step 5: Analyzing and Reporting Test Results.

Task 1: Report Software Status.

Task 2: Report Interim Test Results.

Task 3: Report Final Test Results.

Chapter 12: Step 6: Acceptance and Operational Testing.

Task 1: Acceptance Testing.

Task 2: Pre-Operational Testing.

Task 3: Post-Operational Testing.

Chapter 13: Step 7: Post-Implementation Analysis.

Task 1: Establish Assessment Objectives.

Task 2: Identify What to Measure.

Task 3: Assign Measurement Responsibility.

Task 4: Select Evaluation Approach.

Task 5: Identify Needed Facts.

Task 6: Collect Evaluation Data.

Task 7: Assess the Effectiveness of Testing.

Part IV: Incorporating Specialized Testing Responsibilities.

Chapter 14: Software Development Methodologies.

Chapter 15: Testing Client/Server Systems.

Task 1: Assess Readiness.

Task 2: Assess Key Components.

Task 3: Assess Client Needs.

Chapter 16: Rapid Application Development Testing.

Task 1: Determine Appropriateness of RAD.

Task 2: Test Planning Iterations.

Task 3: Test Subsequent Planning Iterations.

Task 4: Test the Final Planning Iteration.

Chapter 17: Testing Internal Controls.

Task 1: Understand the System Being Tested.

Task 2: Identify Risks.

Task 3: Review Application Controls.

Task 4: Test Application Controls.

Task 5: Document Control Strengths and Weaknesses.

Chapter 18: Testing COTS and Contracted Software.

Task 1: Test Business Fit.

Step 1: Testing Needs Specification.

Step 2: Testing CSFs.

Task 2: Test Operational Fit.

Step 1: Test Compatibility.

Step 2: Integrate the Software into Existing Work Flows.

Step 3: Demonstrate the Software in Action.

Task 3: Test People Fit.

Task 4: Acceptance-Test the Software Process.

Step 1: Create Functional Test Conditions.

Step 2: Create Structural Test Conditions.

Chapter 19: Testing in a Multiplatform Environment.

Task 1: Define Platform Configuration Concerns.

Task 2: List Needed Platform Configurations.

Task 3: Assess Test Room Configurations.

Task 4: List Structural Components Affected by the Platform(s).

Task 5: List Interfaces the Platform Affects.

Task 6: Execute the Tests.

Chapter 20: Testing Software System Security.

Task 1: Establish a Security Baseline.

Chapter 21: Testing a Data Warehouse.

Task 1: Measure the Magnitude of Data Warehouse Concerns.

Task 2: Identify Data Warehouse Activity Processes to Test.

Chapter 22: Testing Web-Based Systems.

Task 1: Select Web-Based Risks to Include in the Test Plan.

Task 2: Select Web-Based Tests.

Task 3: Select Web-Based Test Tools.

Task 4: Test Web-Based Systems.

Part V: Building Agility into the Testing Process.

Chapter 23: Using Agile Methods to Improve Software Testing.

Chapter 24: Building Agility into the Testing Process.

Step 1: Measure Software Process Variability.

Step 2: Maximize Best Practices.

Step 3: Build on Strength, Minimize Weakness.

Step 4: Identify and Address Improvement Barriers.

Step 5: Identify and Address Cultural and Communication.

Management Cultures.

Culture 1: Manage People.

Culture 2: Manage by Process.

Culture 3: Manage Competencies.

Culture 4: Manage by Fact.

Culture 5: Manage Business Innovation.

Step 6: Identify Implementable Improvements.

Step 7: Develop and Execute an Implementation Plan.

Index.