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Engaging Testers Early and Throughout the SDLC

This workshop presentation discusses the contribution of testers, factors in deploying testers, and various tester engagement models throughout the software development life cycle (SDLC).

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Engaging Testers Early and Throughout the SDLC

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  1. Engaging Testers Early and Throughout the SDLC Mark L. Gillenson Xihui Zhang Sandra Richardson STEP Workshop May 7-8, 2007 STEP Workshop, May 2007

  2. Outline • Introduction • Literature Streams • Contributions of Testers • Factors in Deploying Testers • Five Tester Engagement Models • Variations in the Models • Conclusion STEP Workshop, May 2007

  3. Computer Software Development • As with manufactured products: • Developed in stages. • Benefits from cross-functional development teams. • Testers as team members. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  4. Relevant Literature Streams • Manufacturing engineers and new product development. • Cross-functional teams. • Interpersonal relationships – Trusted Partners. • Software development life cycle. • Engaging testers earlier in the development process. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  5. Five SDLC Stages for the Purposeof This Presentation • Business Requirements • Software Requirements • High-Level Design • Detailed Design • Implementation/Coding STEP Workshop, May 2007

  6. Contribution of Testers at the Lower Levels of the SDLC • Create test cases. • Run tests • Functional tests. • Performance tests. • Vulnerability tests. • Defect management. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  7. Contribution of Testers at the Higher Levels of the SDLC • Develop test plan. • Provide early-warning of testing resource needs. • Develop scenarios and test cases. • Influence the process so that testing is more effective and efficient at lower SDLC levels. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  8. Contribution of Testers at the Higher Levels of the SDLC • Evaluate content. For example, in requirements look for: • Infeasible requirements. • Complex requirements. • Conflict situations. • Serve as facilitator. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  9. Factors in Deciding How to Deploy Testers • Educational backgrounds. • Skill sets • Specific skills. • Depth or breadth focused. • Amount of resource available for testing. Factors: • Number of test personnel. • Outsourcing vendor relationships. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  10. Five Tester Engagement Models • The Single Tester Model • The Specialist Model • The Leapfrog Model • The Balanced Bifurcated Model • The Unbalanced Bifurcated Model STEP Workshop, May 2007

  11. 1. The Single Tester Model • One tester through all SDLC stages. • Advantages • Project knowledge continuity. • Minimal resources. • Disadvantages • Over dependency on one person. • Broad skill range expectation. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  12. 2. The Specialist Model • Different, specialized tester at each SDLC stage. • Advantages • Each tester is an expert at their stage. • Testers do not have to be overly broad. • Disadvantages • Repeated learning curve. • Lack of communication between testers. • Assumes availability of specialized testers. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  13. 3. The Leapfrog Model • Tester A works on the business requirements stage. • Tester B joins Tester A on the software requirements stage. Tester A leaves the project at the end of this stage. • Tester C joins Tester B on the high-level design stage. And so on. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  14. 3. The Leapfrog Model • Advantages • Two testers working on each stage (after the first stage.) • Project knowledge transfer at each stage. • Disadvantages • Resource intensive with two testers at each stage. • Assumes availability of specialized testers. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  15. 4. The Balanced Bifurcated Model • Tester A has requirements/analysis background. • Tester B has programming background. • Tester A handles higher level stages. • Tester B handles lower level stages. • They overlap at high-level design. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  16. 4. The Balanced Bifurcated Model • Transfer project knowledge at high-level design stage. • Compromise relative to other models regarding: • Skill base. • Overdependence on individual. • Personnel resource. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  17. 5. The Unbalanced Bifurcated Model • Same as the Balanced Bifurcated Model except the overlap between Testers A and B occurs at either the detailed design stage or the coding stage. • More dependence on Tester A. • Allows Tester B to focus on coding. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  18. Variation 1: Reinforcements • A tester can bring in additional test personnel at a particular stage. • The original tester may be considered to be a “test lead.” • Sub-variation: “The Rake” • In the Single Tester Model or the Unbalanced Bifurcated Model, Tester A works through all of the higher-level stages, then calls in a specialized staff for code testing. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  19. Variation 2: Overlap Elimination • Reduces personnel resource outlay but results in loss of project knowledge transfer. • Significant in The Unbalanced Bifurcated Model in handing-off code testing to an outsourcing vendor. STEP Workshop, May 2007

  20. Conclusion • Engaging testers early and throughout the SDLC will result in: • More effective testing. • More efficient testing. • Reduced cycle time. • Higher quality systems. STEP Workshop, May 2007

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