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Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing: A People-Oriented Approach
- By William Perry, Randall Rice
- Published Jul 12, 2013 by Addison-Wesley Professional. Part of the Dorset House eBooks series.
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Description
- Copyright 2014
- Edition: 1st
- eBook
- ISBN-10: 0-13-348860-8
- ISBN-13: 978-0-13-348860-9
This is the digital version of hte printed book (Copyright © 1997).
Software testers require technical and political skills to survive what can often be a lose-lose relationship with developers and managers.
Whether testing is your specialty or your stepping stone to a career as a developer, there's no better way to survive the pressures put on testers than to meet the ten challenges described in this practical handbook.
This book goes beyond the technical skills required for effective testing to address the political realities that can't be solved by technical knowledge alone. Communication and negotiation skills must be in every tester's tool kit.
Authors Perry and Rice compile a "top ten" list of the challenges faced by testers and offer tactics for success. They combine their years of experience in developing testing processes, writing books and newsletters on testing, and teaching seminars on how to test.
The challenges are addressed in light of the way testing fits into the context of software development and how testers can maximize their relationships with managers, developers, and customers.
In fact, anyone who works with software testers should read this book for insight into the unique pressures put on this part of the software development process.
"Somewhere between the agony of rushed deadlines and the luxury of all the time in the world has got to be a reasonable approach to testing."—from Chapter 8
The Top Ten People Challenges Facing Testers
Challenge #10: Getting Trained in Testing
Challenge #9: Building Relationships with Developers
Challenge #8: Testing Without Tools
Challenge #7: Explaining Testing to Managers
Challenge #6: Communicating with Customers—And Users
Challenge #5: Making Time for Testing
Challenge #4: Testing What's Thrown Over the Wall
Challenge #3: Hitting a Moving Target
Challenge #2: Fighting a Lose-Lose Situation
Challenge #1: Having to Say No
Sample Content
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Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing: Challenge #5: Making Time for Testing
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Table of Contents
Chapter One • How Testing Tests Testers 1
THE TESTER'S WORLD 2
TESTER 1 VERSUS TESTER 2 3
THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE TESTER'S PEOPLE CHALLENGE 4
THE TOP TEN PEOPLE-RELATED CHALLENGES 7
ROAD MAP THROUGH THE BOOK 11
Chapter Two • Does Testing Test You? 13
WHY DO A SELF-ASSESSMENT? 13
THE THREE NECESSARY INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS 14
SELF-ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS 15
SUMMARIZING THE SELF-ASSESSMENT RESULTS 16
INTERPRETING SELF-ASSESSMENT RESULTS 22
Conclusion 1: Overall Assessment 22
Conclusion 2: Criterion Assessment 24
Chapter Three • Challenge #10: Getting Trained in Testing 25
OVERVIEW 25
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 26
What Went Wrong in This Scenario? 26
IMPACT ON TESTING 27
Skill Categories and Descriptions 28
Knowing What Kinds of Testing Should Be Performed 29
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 36
Raise Management Awareness of Testing 36
Make Time for Training 38
Develop Your Own Skills 38
Certify Your Testing Skills 41
SOLUTION IMPEDIMENTS 41
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 42
PLAN OF ACTION 43
Chapter Four • Challenge #9: Building Relationships with Developers 45
OVERVIEW 45
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 45
IMPACT ON TESTING 47
The Impact on Testing Progress 48
The Impact on Group Morale 49
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 51
Adopt a Win-Win Approach 51
Widen Your View of Testing 52
Move from "Us versus Them" to "Us and Them" 52
SOLUTION IMPEDIMENTS 53
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 55
PLAN OF ACTION 56
Chapter Five • Challenge #8: Testing Without Tools 57
OVERVIEW 57
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 58
IMPACT ON TESTING 59
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 66
Educate Management on the Use of Test Tools 66
Perform a Tool Survey 68
Define Your Requirements 68
Perform a Cost/Benefit Analysis 69
Investigate Tools Available 69
Integrate Test Tools with an Effective Testing Process 70
SOLUTION IMPEDIMENTS 70
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 71
PLAN OF ACTION 73
Chapter Six • Challenge #7: Explaining Testing to Managers 75
OVERVIEW 75
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 76
IMPACT ON TESTING 77
An Unsupportive View of Test Management 78
A Strategic View of Test Management 81
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 82
Identify the Stakeholders at the Management Level 84
Raise Awareness of the Testing Function 85
Network with Other Organizations to Learn How They Deal with Management 85
Establish a Testing Charter to Define the Purpose of Testing in Your Organization 86
Define Measurable Testing Objectives 86
Dedicate a Manager of Testing Who Understands the Issues and Challenges 86
Make Testing a Process 88
SOLUTION IMPEDIMENTS 88
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 89
PLAN OF ACTION 90
Chapter Seven • Challenge #6: Communicating with Customers—And Users 92
OVERVIEW 92
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 93
IMPACT ON TESTING 94
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 96
Teamwork 98
Communication 98
Continuous Involvement 101
SOLUTION MPEDIMENTS 104
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 105
PLAN OF ACTION 106
Chapter Eight • Challenge #5: Making Time for Testing 107
OVERVIEW 107
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 108
IMPACT ON TESTING 111
Reduced Test Coverage 112
Increased Risk of Regression Defects 112
Fatigue, Burnout, and LowMorale 113
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 114
Control the Scope of Testing 114
Control Management Expectations 114
Base Test Cases on an Independent Set of Criteria 114
Perform Risk Assessments 115
Reuse Your Testware 115
Estimate the Testing Effort Based on Measurable Criteria 116
Use Automation 116
SOLUTION IMPEDIMENTS 117
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 119
PLAN OF ACTION 121
Chapter Nine • Challenge #4: Testing What's Thrown Over the Wall 122
OVERVIEW 122
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 123
IMPACT ON TESTING 125
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 126
Get Management Support to Define Roles and Responsibilities 126
Establish Standards and Processes for Testing 126
Establish Ownership and Accountability at the Developer Level 128
Train Developers to Be Excellent Testers 128
Improve Communication Between Developers and Testers 129
Measure and Refine the Processes Continually 129
Establish Ground Rules 130
SOLUTION IMPEDIMENTS 130
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 131
PLAN OF ACTION 132
Chapter Ten • Challenge #3: Hitting a Moving Target 133
OVERVIEW 133
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 134
IMPACT ON TESTING 136
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 137
Rework of Testware 138
Regression Testing of Previously Tested Software 139
Backlog Created by Rapid Change 143
SOLUTION IMPEDIMENTS 144
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 146
PLAN OF ACTION 147
Chapter Eleven • Challenge #2: Fighting a Lose-Lose Situation 149
OVERVIEW 149
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 149
IMPACT ON TESTING 152
Keeping an Organization at a Low Level of Process Maturity 152
Trivializing and Undermining the Testing Process 152
Demoralizing Testers 153
Fostering a False View of Testing 153
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 154
Communicate the Role of Testing to the Rest of the Organization 154
Identify What Testers Can Reasonably Accomplish 154
Set and Manage Customer Expectations of Production Software 155
SOLUTION IMPEDIMENTS 157
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 158
PLAN OF ACTION 159
Chapter Twelve • Challenge #1: Having to Say No 61
OVERVIEW 161
STATE OF THE PRACTICE 162
IMPACT ON TESTING 163
Test Reporting Is Your Friend! 165
SOLUTIONS TO THE CHALLENGE 165
Standardize Test Reports 165
Make Test Reporting Part of the Testing Process 166
Manage Your Audience's Expectations 166
Use Creative Reporting Techniques 168
Focus on the Facts 168
Be Truthful 168
Document Your Tests 169
Build a Mature Culture 170
SOLUTION IMPEDIMENTS 171
GUIDELINES FOR SUCCESS 172
PLAN OF ACTION 173
Chapter Thirteen • Plan of Action to Improve Testing 175
BUILD THE WILL TO IMPROVE 176
USE THE WAY TO CHANGE THE TESTING PROCESS 178
Step 1: What Needs to Be Changed 180
Step 2: How Much Change (The Goal) 182
Step 3: How to Make the Change (The Plan) 183
Step 4: How to Build Support 183
Step 5: How to Monitor and Measure the Change 186
Step 6: How to Reward Participants 188
TESTING IMPROVEMENT IS A NEVER-ENDING PROCESS 189
Resources 191
RELATED READING 191
CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOR SOFTWARE TESTING 192
LOCAL QUALITY ASSURANCE GROUPS 192
Index 195