Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing: A People-Oriented Approach

Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing: A People-Oriented Approach

Released July 2013
Publisher(s): Addison-Wesley Professional
ISBN: 9780133489163

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Book description

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

Table of contents

  1. About This eBook
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Also Available from Dorset House Publishing
  5. Acknowledgments
  6. Dedication
  7. Contents
  8. 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
    5. Road Map Through the Book
  9. Chapter Two. Does Testing Test You?
    1. Why Do a Self-Assessment?
    2. The Three Necessary Ingredients for Success
    3. Self-Assessment Instructions
    4. Summarizing the Self-Assessment Results
    5. Interpreting Self-Assessment Results
  10. Chapter Three. Challenge #10: Getting Trained In Testing
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  11. Chapter Four. Challenge #9: Building Relationships With Developers
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  12. Chapter Five. Challenge #8: Testing Without Tools
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  13. Chapter Six. Challenge #7: Explaining Testing To Managers
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  14. Chapter Seven. Challenge #6: Communicating With Customers-And Users
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  15. Chapter Eight. Challenge #5: Making Time for Testing
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  16. Chapter Nine. Challenge #4: Testing What’s Thrown Over the Wall
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  17. Chapter Ten. Challenge #3: Hitting a Moving Target
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  18. Chapter Eleven. Challenge #2: Fighting a Lose-Lose Situation
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  19. Chapter Twelve. Challenge #1: Having to Say No
    1. Overview
    2. State of the Practice
    3. Impact on Testing
    4. Solutions to the Challenge
    5. Solution Impediments
    6. Guidelines for Success
    7. Plan of Action
  20. Chapter Thirteen. Plan of Action to Improve Testing
    1. Build the Will to Improve
    2. Use the Way to Change the Testing Process
    3. Testing Improvement Is a Never-Ending Process
  21. Resources
    1. Related Reading
    2. Certification Programs for Software Testing
    3. Local Quality Assurance Groups
  22. Index

Product information

  • Title: Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing: A People-Oriented Approach
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: July 2013
  • Publisher(s): Addison-Wesley Professional
  • ISBN: 9780133489163