Testing is getting harder. To keep up with ever growing complexity of software and the testing task, new approaches to test development must be used. One of these approaches is automated test design based on precise models of software behavior and usage.

Today, commercial support in this area is weak. There is a current and growing need for a variety of commercial tools supporting automated design.

The purpose of this presentation is to provide insight into the information requirements for automated test design to (current and potential) vendors of software modeling tools. It is hoped that this information will catalyze a number of commercial development efforts.

Originally titled, "Lessons Learned from Incorporation of Commercial Computer-Aided Software Engineering Tools in a Flight-Critical Software Test," this article explores ways to use what were previously called commercial computer aided software engineering (CASE) tools for safety-critical software development.

Quote from the abstract: "It is widely believed that the adoption of predefined processes aids the productivity and quality of software development. Furthermore, it is widely believed that the adoption of these processes at the enterprise level provides advantages of repeatability and organizational maturity that amplify the benefits. Unfortunately, the existing corpus of software engineering practice standards has been targeted for adoption at the project level rather than the enterprise level. A new standard, IEEE/EIA 12207, Software Life Cycle Processes, addresses this problem--it is intended as an integrating, organizing, strategic standard specifically directed to enterprise adoptio

Systeme Evolutif have developed a Test Organisation Model, TOM™ to address the primary concern that the outcome of the assessment should address the problems being experienced. The assessment process is based on a relatively simple questionnaire that can be completed and a TOM™ score derived without the assistance of a consultant. Completed questionnaires can be returned by mail or on-line and a prioritised list of test improvement suggestions obtained free from Evolutif.