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Software Testing: An ISEB Foundation

Software Testing: An ISEB Foundation. A Presentation to the Nottingham Branch of the BCS by Brian Hambling. The Agenda. A little bit of testing Certification and how it works Tester certification and how it has developed Where we are now Where we plan to go. A Little Test.

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Software Testing: An ISEB Foundation

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  1. Software Testing: An ISEB Foundation A Presentation to the Nottingham Branch of the BCS by Brian Hambling

  2. The Agenda • A little bit of testing • Certification and how it works • Tester certification and how it has developed • Where we are now • Where we plan to go

  3. A Little Test Which of the following is true of software testing? It reduces risk and adds quality to software products It should happen between development and release It is expensive and adds little value It requires extensive domain knowledge

  4. Risk Based Testing Testing Strategy Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3 Priority 4 Probability of Failure Cost of failure/value of requirement

  5. Whole Life Cycle Testing Acceptance Test Requirements Testing here ensures the product will be what we wanted Testing here defines the product quality System Specification System Test Testing here confirms the product quality System Design Integration Test Testing here directly affects the product quality Unit Design Unit Test

  6. Cost Effective Testing Highest risk/highest value • Each test adds maximum value by: • confirming high value requirements are met • identifying problems in high risk areas • Risk is reduced/value is assured Threshold Completion criteria Acceptable quality outcome Any uncompleted tests add less value than those already completed. Testing is always the best that could be achieved in the time Lowest risk/lowest value

  7. Structured Testing Requirements are prioritised and completion criteria set Static testing identifies specification issues Systematic ‘black box’ techniques explore functionality Systematic ‘white box’ techniques explore structure Review Achievement of completion criteria is evaluated Release

  8. Why Certification? • Business needs to know why and how software testing can help them • Users pressed into user acceptance testing need to know how to add value • Professional testers need to understand how to be more effective • Potential entrants to testing need to have a sound basic understanding

  9. ISEB Information Systems Examination Board • Projects and Business Change • Project management • Business analysis • Solution Development and • Delivery • Software testing • Systems development and architecture • Infrastructure Assets and Service Management • IT service management • Assets and infrastructure management • Legal, Compliance and Security • IT legal compliance • IT security 155, 000+ certificates issued to date

  10. Tester Certification • Foundation as an entry point with no barriers to entry • Practitioner for testers with some experience • Specialist for experienced testers who want to demonstrate their advanced knowledge and skills All underpinned by accredited training to ISEB approved syllabuses

  11. Progress so far • Foundation – 39,000 certificates issued • Practitioner – 2,500 certificates issued • Specialist – still to be defined

  12. The Foundation Dilemma BENEFITS • Vocabulary • Common understanding • Shared values BUT • Most developers not included • Managers do not understand what testers can do RESULT • Frustration

  13. Reaching for the sky Practitioner Foundation

  14. Exam Quality • Questions and exam papers set and/or reviewed by a selected panel • Markers approved and trained • Moderation by sample papers (and possibly by seeded papers) • Final exam moderation before results are released • Feedback to unsuccessful candidates

  15. Internationalisation • ISTQB formed in 2002 to foster international co-operation • ISTQB Foundation syllabus launched in 2005 and adopted by ISEB to replace the ISEB syllabus • ISTQB has attracted a large number of countries and continues to expand but most have no experience of certification schemes

  16. A Brief History of Testing:The Special Interest Group 2002 BCS SIGIST ISTQB 1998 BS 7925 ISEB Foundation 2002 ISEB Practitioner

  17. A Brief History of Testing:The International Dimension 2002 BCS SIGIST ISTQB 1998 2005 BS 7925 ISEB Foundation ISTQB Foundation 2002 ISEB Practitioner

  18. A Brief History of Testing:Where we are today BCS SIGIST ISTQB 1998 2005 BS 7925 ISEB Foundation ISTQB Foundation 2007 2002 2007? General ISEB Practitioner ISTQB Advanced Analyst Manager 2006

  19. ISEB Portfolio Alignment

  20. The Portfolio Idea • An opportunity to • Align levels of certificate across specialist areas • Share certificates between specialist areas • Define new specialist levels with direct relevance to BCS Membership qualification

  21. The New Practitioner • Align Practitioner with the ISTQB Foundation • Split the two key disciplines of test management and test analysis • Ease the transition from Foundation to Practitioner

  22. Practitioner Structure Testing Specialist Certificate 18 hours tuition 2 hour exam 6 essay questions Answer any 4 Practitioner Certificate In Test Management Practitioner Certificate in Test Analysis 18 hours tuition 1 hour exam 25 scenario based multiple choice questions Practitioner General Examination Foundation

  23. A Brief History of Testing:Glimpsing a bright future 2002 BCS SIGIST ISTQB 1998 2005 BS 7925 ISEB Foundation ISTQB Foundation 2007 2002 2007? General ISEB Practitioner ISTQB Advanced Analyst Manager 2008/9? ISTQB Expert ISEB Specialist 2006

  24. Supporting the Learner • Accredited training providers • Foundation 38 (19 International in 10 countries) • Practitioner 17 (5 International in 4 countries) • Sample examination papers • Feedback from examinations • Reasons for failure • General weaknesses via training providers • Books

  25. The Testing Specialist:An initial proposal e.g. requirements, business analysis 1 point SWT Foundation Another Foundation e.g. software development ‘Broad’ Practitioner 2 points SWT Practitioner e.g. performance testing ‘Specialist’ Practitioner 3 points Dissertation Total required – 10 points At least 2 from Foundation At least 4 from Practitioner At least 3 from Specialist

  26. Where next? • Greater international co-operation • Seamless qualifications around the world • More testers qualified at the highest levels • But the real prize is…… IT professionals from every specialist area working together to achieve better systems

  27. Any Questions?

  28. Foundation Certificate • Foundation Certificate • 14 hours tuition over 3 days • Broad syllabus • Exam at the end of the course or via Prometric • 1 hour multiple choice exam • 40 questions • Pass mark 60% • Pass rate 80%+

  29. Foundation Syllabus • Fundamentals of testing (155 mins) • Testing throughout the software life cycle (135 mins) • Static techniques (60 mins) • Test design techniques (255 mins) • Test management (180 mins) • Tool support for testing(80 mins).

  30. Practitioner Certificate • Practitioner • 57 hours tuition over 8 – 10 days • 3 hour essay style exam • 1 compulsory question (40 marks) • 3 from 5 optional questions (20 marks each) • Too broad for many, covering both technical and management aspects

  31. Practitioner Syllabus • Testing in the life cycle review (1.5 hours) • Test process (3.5 hours) • Test management (6.5 hours) • Testing and risk (4 hours) • Test techniques (20 hours) • Reviews (7 hours) • Incident management (1.5 hours) • Test process improvement (3 hours) • Test tools (6 hours) • People skills (3 hours) .

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