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Validating and Improving Test-Case Effectiveness Yuri Chernak. Presented by Michelle Straughan. Overview. Introduction Test-Case Effectiveness Metric (TCE) Improving Test-Case Effectiveness 5 steps to improving TCE Summary. Introduction.
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Validating and Improving Test-Case EffectivenessYuri Chernak Presented by Michelle Straughan
Overview • Introduction • Test-Case Effectiveness Metric (TCE) • Improving Test-Case Effectiveness • 5 steps to improving TCE • Summary
Introduction • Software testing is crucial to the success of product • Evaluation certifies product usage • Verification of test specifications • Validation of test cases • New metric for evaluating test case • Framework for test-case effectiveness
Improving Test-Case Effectiveness – Test-Case Effectiveness Metric • Formulation of metric to measure the effectiveness of testing • Metric Definition: TCE = Ntc /Ntot * 100% • TCE value compared to a baseline to determine effectiveness (eg 75% baseline)
Improving Test-Case Effectiveness • Analyze causes and areas improvements are needed • Proposed improvement framework based on test-escapes (defects test case suite did not find but were side effects found in the same test cycle) • Approach relies on analysis of missed defects by test cases
5 steps to Improvement • Thoroughly understanding and properly documenting the test process • Make Assumptions • Gathering defect data and performing causal analysis • Identifying main factors • Implementing corrective actions
Step 1: Thoroughly understanding and properly documenting the test process
Step 2: Make Assumptions • After completing step 1, project team makes assumptions about factors affecting TCE • Test Planning • Test objectives defined in test plan should be traceable to functional specifications • Incomplete specifications lead to an incomplete test plan and leads to reduced TCE
Step 2: Make Assumptions • Test Design • Necessary test cases to test logic of functional features need to be defined, if not adequate coverage will be lacking • Test case specifications should correspond to business rules • Deficiencies could be caused by: • Incomplete test suite (all possible test cases are not defined) • Incomplete test cases – proper logic is not tested – negative test cases • Incorrect test-specifications • Test Preparation and Execution • Test cases not executed • Test cases improperly executed
Factors affecting test-case effectiveness Figure 1: Factors affecting test-case effectiveness
Figure 2: Factors based on causal analysis logic Step 3: Gathering defect data and performing causal analysis
Step 3: Gathering defect data and performing causal analysis • Testers need to track defects and categorize defects. Test-escapes are further categorized according to (fig. 2) • Understand reasons for missed defects • Verify completeness of test specifications • Verify coverage of test-cases • Check for test deficiencies • Verify the correctness of test cases
Step 4: Identifying main factors • Identifying factors that are causing major defects • Analyze these defects and focus on these as most needing corrective measures
Step 4: Identifying main factors Figure 3: Pareto chart
Step 5: Implementing corrective actions • Depending on project at hand, corrective measures could vary. These may include: • Revisiting and revising functional specifications, which results in revising test case specifications • Use of traceability matrix to meet coverage needs of the project – ensures that test cases meet business rule • Training for testers on proper design techniques, using checklists to help better design test case specifications (involves revisiting and revising test case specifications) • Training for testers on proper way to execute tests and verifying test results
Summary • New framework is to aid in better effectiveness of test-cases, however its not applicable to some projects as it requires large number of defects • Framework would theoretically help to reduce defects present in a product when released to production, since it first checks the test process and if its not effective then provides steps for achieving effectiveness • Formalized way of achieving effectiveness, other ways for improving effectiveness could include the use of other testing techniques