Process

Articles

Clarify Your Ranking for System Problem Reports

Here's a puzzle: If one defect has a severity rating of 3 and a priority rating of 2, and another defect has a severity rating of 2 and a priority rating of 3, which one do you fix first? In this column, Johanna Rothman tells why she thinks severity/priority combinations can be confusing, and she offers her own simpler, three-tiered rating system.
Johanna Rothman's picture Johanna Rothman
March 4, 2003
What Metrics Can Do for You

Measuring activities are vital to the software test process. On this site, there are more than 200 items (articles, tools, templates, etc.) classified under the topic "measurement." But what good are all the bits and pieces of data that you collect? In this week's column, veteran software tester Rick Craig outlines some of the practical uses for metrics.
Rick Craig's picture Rick Craig
February 7, 2003
Manual Testing versus Automated Testing

Automated test tools are powerful aids to improving the return on the testing investment when used wisely. Some tests inherently require an automated approach to be effective, but others must be manual. In addition, automated testing projects that fail are expensive and politically dangerous. How can we recognize whether to automate a test or run it manually, and how much money should we spend on a test?
Rex Black's picture Rex Black
July 18, 2002
Modeling Practice and Requirements

Models are useful in different settings in different ways. Models can test facts, ideas and understanding, simulate operation, and aid coordination between systems and people. In this column, Becky Winant lists six model patterns she has seen in practice in software development organizations, talking about where each is appropriate, and the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Becky Winant
July 8, 2002
a high fidelity test system High Fidelity Test Systems: Investing in Software Testing

Realizing a solid return on your testing investment requires smart selection of tests. Cost-of-quality analysis tells us that it's cheaper to find and fix bugs before the customers do, but, to keep bugs away from customers, we have to find the ones that matter.
Rex Black's picture Rex Black
June 28, 2002
Software Bug Report Sample (template)

This is a sample bug reporting template for accounting and financial software software that includes description, severity, priority levels, and bug solution categories.
Khaja Ahmed's picture Khaja Ahmed
June 17, 2002
Testing Testers

You don't wait until the day before a software release to test the product. Testing software is a complex process, involving systematic investigation and sustained observation. In this week's column, James Bach argues that evaluating testers is similarly complex. And it shouldn't be put off until the night before the tester's performance review.
James Bach's picture James Bach
June 11, 2002
Manage the Risks and the Process

Including a testing/QA component early in a software project necessarily prolongs the schedule, right? Not so, according to Ross Collard. In this, the third of a three-part series, Collard explains how to anticipate risks and to aggressively manage the process to prevent disaster.
Ross Collard's picture Ross Collard
May 10, 2002
Conduct Early and Streamlined Testing

Including a testing/QA component early in a software project necessarily prolongs the schedule, right? Not so, according to Ross Collard. In this, the second of a three-part series, Collard explains how overlapping test phases and emphasizing quality and testing early in the lifecycle can save time and trouble.
Ross Collard's picture Ross Collard
May 3, 2002
Manage and Strengthen Testing

Including a testing/QA component on a software project necessarily prolongs the schedule, right? Not so, according to Ross Collard. In this, the first of a three-part series, Collard explains how speed and quality assurance don't have to contradict each other. Read his examples of how testing can actually help reduce the time to market.
Ross Collard's picture Ross Collard
April 24, 2002

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