Managing the Testing Process: Practical Tools and Techniques for Managing Hardware and Software Testing [Paperback]

Rex Black (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0470404159 | ISBN-13: 978-0470404157 | Publication Date: August 11, 2009 | Edition: 3

New edition of one of the most influential books on managing software and hardware testing

In this new edition of his top-selling book, Rex Black walks you through the steps necessary to manage rigorous testing programs of hardware and software. The preeminent expert in his field, Mr. Black draws upon years of experience as president of both the International and American Software Testing Qualifications boards to offer this extensive resource of all the standards, methods, and tools you'll need.

The book covers core testing concepts and thoroughly examines the best test management practices and tools of leading hardware and software vendors. Step-by-step guidelines and real-world scenarios help you follow all necessary processes and avoid mistakes.

• Producing high-quality computer hardware and software requires careful, professional testing; Managing the Testing Process, Third Edition explains how to achieve that by following a disciplined set of carefully managed and monitored practices and processes
• The book covers all standards, methods, and tools you need for projects large and small
• Presents the business case for testing products and reviews the author's latest test assessments
• Topics include agile testing methods, risk-based testing, IEEE standards, ISTQB certification, distributed and outsourced testing, and more
• Over 100 pages of new material and case studies have been added to this new edition

If you're responsible for managing testing in the real world, Managing the Testing Process, Third Edition is the valuable reference and guide you need.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

For a practical guide to software testing, readers can look to Rex Black's Managing the Testing Process, a compendium of real-world advice on managing software testing successfully. It is a veritable hodge-podge of sample test documents and is filled with recommendations from an old hand at test management.

Early sections examine the design of test plans, along with strategies for assessing and prioritizing risk as well as catching bugs through effective testing. Sample case studies include a network hardware device and a Java word processor.

Throughout this book, a variety of documents (including Excel spreadsheets and Access databases) are presented to get you started on your own testing projects. (Though reproduced here in truly microscopic print, all sample documents are included on the accompanying CD-ROM.) The book also looks at metrics for measuring the performance of your testing operation.

Managing the Testing Process shows how a bug-tracking database is the most effective model for managing the testing cycle. This book is chock-full of advice on testing management. The author also presents dozens of tips for succeeding in the software Q/A job market.

Sections on designing a lab and staffing it, including a valuable discussion on when to use consultants and when to outsource testing, provide a practical guide to today's testing management. After an introduction to working with other players in today's software organizations, a final chapter looks at managing testing across different locations.

Many developers spend time in Q/A as a stepping stone to careers in software design. And as the author points out, the job of test engineer is growing in popularity. Read this book to find out the often harsh realities of software testing along with strategies for improving the effectiveness of your software testing team. --Richard Dragan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Proven tips and tools for building and executing an effective test project

Earlier editions of this book have helped test managers around the world to develop essential tools and apply them to successful test project management. In this third edition of his bestseller, Rex Black shares lessons he has learned in the decade since the first edition came out and provides a thorough review of the latest tools and resources, making this book even more valuable.

A structured test operation is planned, repeatable, and documented, but preserves creativity and flexibility in all the right places. Rex Black teaches you to develop models for understanding the meaning of the myriad data points generated by testing. Then you can effectively manage what is often a confusing, chaotic, and change-ridden area of the project, building an effective and efficient test organization. You will learn about:

• Building a business case for solid testing

• Mastering Agile testing challenges, applying risk-based testing, and managing distributed and outsourced testing

• Understanding and adapting the new IEEE 829 standard

• Building a high-performance test team using skills management, training, and certification

• Building and managing an effective test organization, explained with plenty of real-world examples, exercises, and solutions

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 3 edition (August 11, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470404159
• ISBN-13: 978-0470404157
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #54,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Software Design, Testing & Engineering > Testing
  • #22 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Software Engineering > Design Tools & Techniques

More About the Author

With a quarter-century of software and systems engineering experience, Rex Black is President of RBCS (www.rbcs-us.com), a leader in software, hardware, and systems testing. For over fifteen years, RBCS has delivered services in consulting, outsourcing and training for software and hardware testing. Employing the industry's most experienced and recognized consultants, RBCS conducts product testing, builds and improves testing groups and hires testing staff for hundreds of clients worldwide. Ranging from Fortune 20 companies to start-ups, RBCS clients save time and money through improved product development, decreased tech support calls, improved corporate reputation and more. As the leader of RBCS, Rex is the most prolific author practicing in the field of software testing today. His popular first book, Managing the Testing Process, has sold over 35,000 copies around the world, including Japanese, Chinese, and Indian releases, and is now in its third edition. His five other books on testing, Advanced Software Testing: Volume I, Advanced Software Testing: Volume II, Critical Testing Processes, Foundations of Software Testing, and Pragmatic Software Testing, have also sold tens of thousands of copies, including Hebrew, Indian, Chinese, Japanese and Russian editions. He has written over thirty articles, presented hundreds of papers, workshops, and seminars, and given about fifty keynotes and other speeches at conferences and events around the world. Rex is the immediate past President of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board and a Director of the American Software Testing Qualifications Board.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book - recommended for everyone who manages testing, October 14, 1999

By 

Stephan Meyn "Stephan Meyn" (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing the Testing Process (Paperback)

I very much liked the book. Rex Black has written about the process and management side of testing. This makes it an ideal complement to Cem Kaner's "Testing Computer Software" (which deals with testing technique) and Boris Beizer's "Software Testing Techniques" (which deals with the fundamentals).

I found the templates useful, mostly because I never worked my way around Excel to get those metrics in an automated manner. But don't expect them to be replacement for commercial test management tools.

This should be a required reading for anyone who plans or manages testing.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A basic, but effective, approach to test management, August 23, 2002

By 

Mike Tarrani "www.tarrani.com" (Deltona, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing the Testing Process: Practical Tools and Techniques for Managing Hardware and Software Testing (Paperback)

The approach and techniques given in this book will get the new test manager and his or her team quickly started with basic techniques for managing testing. The key strengths of this book include:

(1) Instructions for developing test plans, and associated test cases and reports - the material is fairly basic, but complete and consistent with good practices.

(2) An excellent discussion of, and advice for, effective management of a test team, setting priorities and managing budgets.

(3) Practical advice for setting objectives and scope within the testing process.

While this book will give the in-the-trenches test professionals a view of the 'big picture', it's more suited to managers and QA leads who are seeking guidelines for establishing the foundation of a test process, and who want to quickly implement standards for test documentation and a workflow. The book's accompanying web page provides over 50 templates, case studies and tools that can be downloaded and immediately used within your organization. In addition, the website contains a small (but growing) collection of articles, presentations and links that augment the material in this book.

Although there are a handful of other books on test management that are equal to this one, each has strengths and weaknesses - but all provide sound advice and a structured approach to managing the test process. This particular book's strengths include the downloadable documents that will save much time and effort, and the straightforward approach to basic test management. If you are trying to get a basic test process in place you won't go wrong if you select this book.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite software testing books, November 30, 2002

By 

Kevin B. Cohen (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Managing the Testing Process (Paperback)

This is one of my favorite software testing books. It has an especially good chapter on metrics for evaluating the progress of your testing effort--the metrics are easy to calculate, and VERY importantly, easy to understand by--and convincing to, in my experience--the people you'll be reporting your progress to. There's also a good chapter on bug-tracking, and some discussion of how to write bug reports that I've found very useful for training new testers. Plus, there's lots of useful perspective on general management issues--hiring; the interdepartmental issues that (as far as I know) are unique to testing; etc.

I wrote this review based on the first edition--a second edition has since come out.