VET203 SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE

Transcription

1 VET203 SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE M ODULE DE SCRIPTION: This module is designed to deliver knowledge of quality concepts in software development projects. The topics covered include software testing principles and concepts, building the test environment, executing a test plan and reporting on tests. It also addresses organizational and team dynamics and project management concepts as they relate to software development. The module also prepares students for certifications in CSTE, CTFL/CTAL and CSQA, which are well-noted industry certifications in software quality assurance and testing. Upon completion of VET203 students should be: Able to describe software quality concepts Able to gain knowledge in the basics of software testing Able to acquire proficiency in various software testing principles and practices Able to plan, estimate, develop and implement tests effectively M ODULE CONTE NT (SUGGE STED ORDE R): TOPIC 1: Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL) Assessment Required? 1.1 SU Content: Topic Overview 1.2 EK Course: Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL) 1.3 Foundation Level (CTFL) Part 1: Supplemental Questions 14 Foundation Level (CTFL) Part 2: Supplemental Questions TOPIC 2: Certified Software Tester (CSTE) Assessment Required?

2 2.1 SU Content: Topic Overview 2.2 EK Course: Certified Software Tester (CSTE) 2.3 Foundation Level (CSTE) Part 1: Supplemental Questions 2.4 Foundation Level (CSTE) Part 2: Supplemental Questions TOPIC 3: Certified Tester, Advanced Level (CTAL) Assessment Required? 3.1 SU Content: Topic Overview 3.2 EK Course: Certified Tester, Advanced Level (CTAL): Test Analyst 3.3 Advanced Level (CTAL): Supplemental Questions TOPIC 4: Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) 4.1 SU Content: Topic Overview Assessment Required? 4.2 EK Course: Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) 4.3 Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) : Supplemental Questions SUCCE SSFUL COMPLE TI ON OF M ODULE R E QUI RES: 1. Full completion of each of the above topics and a minimum assessment grade of 80% where an assessment is designated as required. OR EK Course Assessment of 80% 2. Active participation in 3 of the 4 following ElementK Discussion Forums* o Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL) o Certified Software Tester (CSTE) o Certified Tester, Advanced Level (CTAL) o Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA) *Active participation includes posting an individual response, reading all other posts, and providing feedback on at least 2 other forum entries. *Note: The advisor has the discretion to adjust requirements as needed on an individual student basis.

3 TI PS FOR SUCCE SS: It is recommended that students should invest, on average, approximately 1 hour at a time viewing the online course content and reading and researching the supporting material provided. For each hour of online viewing an additional 1 hour should be spent performing and reviewing the activities included. When available perform and review the lesson lab review questions before attempting the assessments and complete all required assignments. SUPPLE ME NTAL M ATE RIALS: Supplemental Question Guides The following question guides are a good self-tests to measure your progress. They can be done on your own or you may wish to start a discussion on the class forum to share your thoughts and ideas with other students. In addition, these questions may become part of future synchronous or asynchronous discussion sessions that you have with your advisor and/or other class members. Software Quality Assurance Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL) Part 1: Supplemental Questions Software Quality Assurance Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL) Part 2: Supplemental Questions Software Quality Assurance Certified Software Tester (CSTE) Part 1: Supplemental Questions Software Quality Assurance Certified Software Tester (CSTE) Part 2: Supplemental Questions Software Quality Assurance Certified Tester, Advanced Level (CTAL): Supplemental Questions Software Quality Assurance Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA): Supplemental Questions

4 VET203 SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE CERTIFIED TESTER, FOUNDATION LEVEL (CTFL) PART 1: SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS The following questions will form the basis of the weekly discussion (3-6 hrs.). Understanding Software Development Models Lesson Follow Up 1. How would you see the software engineering concepts that you examined in this lesson? 2. Which software development model would you recommend implementing in your projects in order to work efficiently? Understanding Testing Lesson Follow Up 1. Did you find any differences in the in the testing process covered in this lesson and the one followed in your organization? What are the differences? 2. Do you think that documentation is an important aspect of testing? Understanding Test Levels Lesson Follow Up 1. Are the testing activities performed in your organization grouped into various categories? How? 2. After going through the test levels covered in this lesson, do you think that you need to modify the way testing activities are grouped in your organization? Why? Understanding Test Types Lesson Follow Up 1. What are the different types of tests performed in your organization? At which test level are they implemented?

5 2. After going through the test types covered in this lesson, do you think you need to modify the kinds of tests that you typically perform to meet specific test objectives? Why? Planning and Estimating Tests Lesson Follow Up 1. Identify some scenarios in which you would use different test approaches. 2. How does risk analysis help in test planning? Applying Test Design Techniques Lesson Follow Up 1. What are the different test techniques that you will use to test a software application? Why? 2. How is the specification-based technique different from the structure-based technique?

6 VET203 SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE CERTIFIED TESTER, FOUNDATION LEVEL (CTFL) PART 2: SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS The following questions will form the basis of the weekly discussion (2-4 hrs.). Developing Tests Lesson Follow Up 1. Do you think test development process helps you in developing test cases? How? 2. Identify the benefits of test cases in the testing process? Implementing Tests Lesson Follow Up 1. How do you log information about the execution of test cases in your organization? 2. Identify the significance of using incident reports in the testing process. Reporting on Tests and Performing Closure Activities Lesson Follow Up 1. How will you optimize the testing process? 2. Identify the significance of test summary reports. Identifying Testing Tools Lesson Follow Up 1. How will the use of testing tools affect the way you perform different testing activities? 2. How do you select testing tools for performing testing activities in your organization?

7 VET203 SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE CERTIFIED SOFTWARE TESTER (CSTE) PART 1: SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS The following questions will form the basis of the weekly discussion (5-10 hrs.). Understanding Software Testing Understanding Software Testing Lesson Follow Up 1. What is the role of software testing in building quality software products? 2. Which software quality according to you are the most important for the success of a software product? What considerations will you keep in mind while identifying the quality factor s for a software product? Understanding the Test Process Lesson Follow Up 1. How important do you think is a test plan before starting the test process on a software product? Why? 2. How efficient do you find the PDCA process in developing a software product? Understanding Test Levels Lesson Follow Up 1. What consideration will you keep in mind while employing various testing levels in your software development projects? 2. How does acceptance testing help you create high quality software products? What are the probable difficulties you expect while conducting acceptance tests? Understanding Testing Techniques Lesson Follow Up 1. In what way do you find performing structural testing techniques on a software product useful?

8 2. In what way do you find performing functional testing techniques on a software product useful? Examining Test Case Design Techniques Lesson Follow Up 1. How do you plan to utilize the various test design techniques to ensure overall quality of a software product? 2. Which specification-based testing technique do you think will be the most useful to you in your job role? Why? Planning and Estimating Tests Lesson Follow Up 1. In what way does creating a test plan before performing the test activity help you? 2. How efficient is test estimation you think in performing the test activity? Handling Risks in Software Lesson Follow Up 1. What steps do you plan to take to overcome various risks that plague software projects in your organization? 2. Which risk estimation method do you find the most useful to implement in your current job role? Why? Implementing Tests Lesson Follow Up 1. How often would you like to test a software product by implementing various tests? Why? 2. What would be the advantage of designing functional and structural test cases? Reporting on Tests Lesson Follow Up 1. Which test reporting tool is the most useful to you in your current job role? Why? 2. What consideration will you keep in mind while defining test metrics in your organization? Building a Test Environment Lesson Follow Up

9 1. What steps will you take to build an efficient test environment in your organization? 2. How would you build a test process and follow it, during testing?

10 VET203 SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE CERTIFIED SOFTWARE TESTER (CSTE) PART 2: SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS The following questions will form the basis of the weekly discussion (2-4 hrs.). Managing a Test Project Lesson Follow Up 1. Which Leadership Skill do you think is the most important to you to successfully perform your role as a project manager? 2. What are the consideration will you keep in mind while selecting a testing tool for your organization? Testing Software Developed by External Organizations Lesson Follow Up 1. What are the benefits of purchasing COTS software products for an organization? 2. In what way is an organization benefited when dealing with contractors to develop a software product? Evaluating Security Requirements Lesson Follow Up 1. Which transaction processing control do you use the most in your job role? How is it effective in ensuring the security of transactions? 2. Which security control attribute is the most useful to you in your job role while implementing security measures? Testing Products Developed Using Newer Technologies Lesson Follow Up 1. How do you analyze the impact of testing new technologies? 2. How do you analyze the challenges of testing new technologies?

11 VET203 SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE CERTIFIED TESTER, ADVANCED LEVEL (CTAL): SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS The following questions will form the basis of the weekly discussion (5-9 hrs.). Relating Software Testing to Software Development Models Lesson Follow Up 1. Which software model would you recommend implementing in your projects in order to work efficiently? Why? 2. How does acceptance testing help you create high-quality software products? What are the possible pitfalls you expect while conducting acceptance tests? The Software Testing Process Lesson Follow Up 1. What factors do you consider while deriving test conditions for a test project? How does it help you in achieving the overall test objective? 2. What factor will you consider when deeming that testing is complete for software system? Identifying Testing Techniques Lesson Follow Up 1. In what ways do you find using structural testing techniques on a software product useful? 2. How do you think experience-based testing can help improve the software product? Testing Software Characteristics Lesson Follow Up 1. Which quality factors will you focus on while performing domain testing for software system? What testing techniques will you use to effectively test the software system?

12 2. Which quality factors will you focus on while performing technical testing for software system? What testing techniques will you use to effectively test the software system? Conducting Reviews Lesson Follow Up 1. How can reviews help in enhancing software development processes in your organization? 2. How do you plan to employ checklists and templates to assist you in conducting effective reviews? Test Management Lesson Follow Up 1. Which test strategy type will you use the most in your job role? 2. Identify some scenarios in which you would use different test approaches? Identifying Incident Management Lesson Follow Up 1. How will categorizing defects aid you in addressing them? 2. How can you use defect tracking and reporting to minimize the occurrence of defects? Testing Tools and Test Automation Lesson Follow Up 1. Which automation tool will you use the most in your job role? 2. What criteria do you consider while selecting an automation tool? People Skills Lesson Follow Up 1. How do you think effective application of individual skills can lead to achieving excellence in your job role? 2. What, in your opinion, is required for a test analyst towards building team dynamics?

13 VET203 SOFTWARE QUALITY ASSURANCE CERTIFIED SOFTWARE QUALITY ANALYST (CSQA): SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS The following questions will form the basis of the weekly discussion (5-9 hrs.). Understanding Quality Principles and Concepts Lesson Follow Up 1. How do you think better quality can be provided to your customers? 2. How can the PDCS cycle be implemented in your organization? Examining Leadership in Quality Lesson Follow Up 1. Why do you think that leadership skills are important for a software quality analyst? 2. What do you think you can do to improve the quality infrastructure in your organization? Analyzing Quality Baselines and Models Lesson Follow Up 1. Which do you think is the most useful method to establish a baseline? 2. How important do you think are baselines in an organization? Examining Quality Assurance Lesson Follow Up 1. Do you have a quality function in your organization? In which maturation phase is it in? Why? 2. Which of the management tools do you think you can use in your workplace? For what purpose? Analyzing Work Processes Lesson Follow Up

14 1. Which process in your organization will you identify to improve using the PDCA cycle? 2. Which types of control methods will you use to establish control in the processes you manage in your organization? Why? Understanding Quality Control Practices Lesson Follow Up 1. What testing strategy do you think is most effective? 2. How effective is Software Configuration Management in IT industry? Analyzing Metrics and Measurement Lesson Follow Up 1. In the context of risk management, which process do you think is the most important? 2. Which type of measurement technique would you want to employ in your organization more frequently? Understanding Internal Controls and Security Lesson Follow Up 1. How do you think internal auditor can help in providing internal controls? 2. What can be done to develop a system free of vulnerabilities? Examining Outsourcing, COTS, and Contracting Software Lesson Follow Up 1. What do you think are the responsibilities of quality professional in software outsourcing? 2. Suppose you are assigned the responsibility of defining the contract while contracting software development work to an external organization. What are the components you will include in the contract?