Effective Methods for Software Testing, Third Edition

Introduction

Most books about software testing explain “what” to do. This book, on the other hand, takes more of a “how-to” approach. It provides the procedures, templates, checklists, and assessment questionnaires necessary to conduct effective and efficient software testing.

The book is divided into five parts, as follows:

• Part One: Assessing Testing Capabilities and Competencies. It is difficult to make any significant change until you know where you are. A baseline tells not only where you are, but lets you measure your progress as your testing strategies and techniques improve. Part One provides three baseline assessments: the capabilities of your software testing group, the competencies of your individual testers, and the effectiveness of your test processes.

• Part Two: Building a Software Testing Environment. Software testers are most effective when they work in an environment that encourages and supports well-established testing policies and procedures. The environment includes the procedures and tools for testing, as well as the support and encouragement of management. Part Two begins by describing how to build an environment conducive to testing, and then expands the discussion by describing how to develop a testing process, select testing tools, and build the competency of your testers.

• Part Three: The Seven-Step Testing Process. Part Three comprises the core material in the book. It defines a world-class software testing process, from its initiation through testing changes ...