Software Testing Fundamentals: Methods and Metrics [Paperback]

Marnie L. Hutcheson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 047143020X | ISBN-13: 978-0471430209 | Publication Date: April 11, 2003 | Edition: 1

• A highly anticipated book from a world-class authority who has trained on every continent and taught on many corporate campuses, from GTE to Microsoft
• First book publication of the two critically acclaimed and widely used testing methodologies developed by the author, known as MITs and S-curves, and more methods and metrics not previously available to the public
• Presents practical, hands-on testing skills that can be used everyday in real-life development tasks
• Includes three in-depth case studies that demonstrate how the tests are used
• Companion Web site includes sample worksheets, support materials, a discussion group for readers, and links to other resources

Editorial Reviews

Review

&thought-provoking and refreshing& -- Professional tester, October 2003

I would recommend this to both beginners and established practitioners. -- Software Testing Verification and Reliability Journal, March 2004

“…a good book. Recommended...”  (Cvu—The Journal of the ACCU, Vol.16, No.6, December 2004)

“I would recommend this to both beginners and established practitioners.” (Software Testing Verification and Reliability Journal, March 2004)

“…thought-provoking and refreshing…” (Professional tester, October 2003)

Review

&thought-provoking and refreshing& -- Professional tester, October 2003I would recommend this to both beginners and established practitioners. -- Software Testing Verification and Reliability Journal, March 2004“…a good book. Recommended...”  (Cvu—The Journal of the ACCU, Vol.16, No.6, December 2004)

“I would recommend this to both beginners and established practitioners.” (Software Testing Verification and Reliability Journal, March 2004)

“…thought-provoking and refreshing…”

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 11, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 047143020X
• ISBN-13: 978-0471430209
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.9 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #180,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Computers & Technology > Computer Science > Software Engineering > Methodology
  • #79 in Books > Computers & Technology > Programming > Software Design, Testing & Engineering > Testing

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unique perspective aimed at product line testing, June 20, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Software Testing Fundamentals: Methods and Metrics (Paperback)

Traditional software testing focuses two key metrics - defect removal efficiency and, in mature environments, defect density. This book takes a different approach that, on first read, may seem like anarchy to experienced test professionals who work on internal projects. However, when you stop and consider the context in which Ms. Hutcheson is using, the methods and metrics she sets forth make perfect sense.

The context is delivery of commercial products or getting company-critical applications rolled out for purposes of competitive advantage. Within this context she defines the following goals: (1) first to market with the product, (2) optimum pricing model, (3) products with the right features, (4) keeping unacceptable bugs to an absolute minimum. For the last she has a corollary, "Make sure your bugs are less expensive and less irritating than your competitor's", which is not the 'party line' in testing, especially in organizations that strive for zero defects, but is realistic, and especially so when time-to-market is critical. In some ways this book reflects software testing in marketing-driven product development. This is further reinforced by the following definitions and objectives:
- definition of quality is customer satisfaction.
- system for achieving quality is constant refinement.
- measure of quality is the profit.
- target goal of the quality process is a hit every time.

Achieving the above within the software testing domain does require a departure from conventional thinking and methods, and how to go about achieving them is thoroughly covered in the body of the book. The key approach is to develop a test strategy that is based on 'Most Important Tests'. Supporting activities covered include building a test inventory, managing risk, and a feedback loop of data analysis.

In addition to being aligned to product line development, this book's approach can also be easily tailored to rapid, iterative development approaches such as agile methods. If you are working in an internal development environment that uses 'heavier' development lifecycles this book is not going to fit; however, if you work in a product-oriented environment this book will not only change your thinking, but will provide the basis for an integrated development-marketing approach that could make a real difference in competitive advantage.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Risk based software testing, September 6, 2004

By 

William McMichael (Audubon, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Software Testing Fundamentals: Methods and Metrics (Paperback)

This text describes MITs (Most Important Tests), a risk based test methodology. MITs makes use of prioritized test cases, which collectively are referred to as a test inventory. The book is organized in 3 sections. Chapters 1 through 5 focus on background concepts. Chapters 6 through 8 focus on the test inventory and how to create it. Chapters 9 through 14 discuss risk analysis, test techniques , and test planning and estimation.

Although the author describes how her methods fit with either traditional or agile software development, I feel it is geared towards tradtional software development with its heavy investment in upfront planning. Agreed upon test inventories she asserts are important to communicate both the value and cost of testing, as well as to establish a contract of what will and what won't be tested for the project.

Although the subtitle of the text is "methods and metrics", there was just one chapter devoted to test metrics.

Overall, I appreciated the "how - to" orientation of the text; this is a book for the test practioner. There are several examples which can be used for sample test templates and checklists. There is also a companion web site, a glossary of terms, and comprehensive end notes.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book on software testing, but interesting also for other test engineers, December 9, 2005

By 

Rote Laterne - See all my reviews

This review is from: Software Testing Fundamentals: Methods and Metrics (Paperback)

Recommended book for software test engineers. Since the author also discusses political aspects of testing in today's real business world, where the CFO rather than the CEO rules, this is an interesting book for other test engineers, too.

One of the main topics of the book are what the author calls MITs, the "most important tests". The MITs are determined using various methods, including path analysis, boundary value analysis, expert interviews, and test ranking.

While there are nice explanations of the other methods, my first impression was that the author's explanation of her ranking method was lacking technical details. Actually, that ranking method is rather simple. Use of consistent terminology and some detracting errors in examples just make it more difficult than necessary for the reader to understand.