Many testers and test managers are being asked to make the transition from testing traditional software in Client/Server, PC, and/or mainframe environments to testing rapidly changing Web applications. This tutorial seeks to help those making the transition by explaining these new technologies and suggesting testing methods and techniques that can be included in a Web site’s Site Navigation, Functional, Usability, and Performance test plans. Using live demos of representative Web testing tools, Steve Splaine provides you with an overview of which tests can be—and should be—automated.

This tutorial will be repeated on Tuesday, October 24, 2000.

 
About the Instructor
Steve Splaine is a Chartered Engineer with nearly 20 years’ experience in developing software systems: Web/Internet, Client/Server, Mainframe, and PCs. He is an experienced project manager, tester, and presenter who has worked/presented at over 100 companies in North America and Europe.

The view that testing is an activity that occurs after coding is both ineffective and costly. The most efficient testing approach applies sound testing practices throughout the entire software lifecycle. Dale Perr y details a testing lifecycle that parallels the software development lifecycle and focuses on defect prevention as well as early detection. Learn when, what, and how to test, and ways to improve the testability of your system. Gain the basics for implementing a pragmatic, yet systematic, integrated approach to testing software. 

This tutorial provides a practical guide for selecting and managing test automation. Edward Kit and Mike Sowers present core testing tool terminology, concepts and best practices, while illustrating techniques for evaluating and implementing tools. Live demos are used to illustrate representative, full-function tools. Learn how to effectively integrate tools into the testing process. Examine a best-of-breed list of tool vendors and test automation products.

 
About the Instructors
Edward Kit, founder and president of Software Development Technologies, is a recognized expert in the area of software testing and automation. His best-selling book, Software Testing in the Real World: Improving the Process, has been adopted as a standard by companies such as Sun Microsystems, Exxon, Chase Manhattan Bank, and Cadence Design Systems.

Mike Sowers has over two decades of experience in the engineering and quality fields with extensive experience in requirements gathering, defect prevention techniques, defect containment approaches, software verification and validation practices, and software engineering methodologies.

Often the key to successful testing is effective and timely planning. Rick Craig introduces you to proven test planning methods and techniques, including the Master Test Plan and specific plans for Acceptance, Systems, Integration, and Unit Testing. Learn how to manage test activities, develop test strategies, estimate test effort, analyze risks, and achieve buy-in. Rick also provides test measurement and reporting recommendations for monitoring and control.

 
About the Instructor
Rick Craig is an experienced international instructor specializing in test management. He has implemented and managed testing efforts on large-scale, traditional, and embedded systems.

Test Engineers as Requirements Consultants
James Robertson, The Atlantic Systems Guild Ltd. (UK)

Testers are rarely involved in the requirements specification process. However, if we involve testers during the writing of the requirements, we can find defects that might not otherwise surface until the product is tested during implementation or installation. This tutorial demonstrates how testers have the expertise for trapping and quantifying defects like inconsistency, ambiguity, vagueness, irrelevancy, and untestability. Discover how testers can effectively test the requirements to determine if they are specified well enough to go further in the development process. 

 
About the Instructor
James Robertson is co-author of Mastering the Requirements Process. He is among the founders of The Atlantic Systems Guild with Tom DeMarco—a software development think-tank that produces numerous successful seminars and books.

Although testing accounts for up to 50% of product development costs, few organizations have measures of their test effectiveness or efficiency. Using the Measurement Framework for Software Test, this introductory tutorial will cover defect tracking, test effort, test effectiveness and efficiency measures, test progress, measuring testware design, and other elements that give insight into the costs and results of test activities. Learn how to accurately evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your test activities as the basis for improvement. 

Test Process Improvement Using the TPI^® Approach
Martin Pol and Marjolein Steyerberg, POLTEQ IT Services B.V. (The Netherlands)

The Test Process Improvement (TPI) model gives practical guidelines for assessing the maturity level of testing in an organization and a step-by-step approach to improve your testing process. The model, dedicated to testing, is complementary to the Capability Maturity Model (CMM). The TPI model consists of 20 key areas supporting different levels of test maturity. Using a Test Maturity Matrix, Martin Pol and Marjolein Steyerberg describe how to set priorities for test process improvement in your organization. Participants will receive a free copy of the TPI book, Test Process Improvement —A Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Structured Testing, by Tim Koomen and Martin Pol. 

 
About the Instructors
Martin Pol has played a significant role in helping to raise the awareness and improve the performance of testing in Europe. Together with colleagues, he developed the TMap method that has become a standard approach for structured testing, and as manager of research and development, he was responsible for the creation of the Test Process Improvement (TPI) model.

Marjolein Steyerberg has worked in several test functions within different projects, including the development of the Test Process Improvement (TPI) model. As a TPI consultant at POLTEQ, she specializes in the relationship between the TPI models and Software Process Improvement models and is actively involved in supporting organizations to improve their testing processes.

Testing Object-Oriented UML Models
Lee Copeland, Software Quality Engineering

For centuries, people have developed models of systems before they have begun the construction of those systems. Object-oriented analysts and designers also build models. UML is today’s preferred notation for these models. This workshop describes four basic object-oriented models (use cases, class diagrams, sequence diagrams, and state-transition diagrams), explains their purpose, gives examples of each, and provides sets of questions that you as a tester can use to evaluate the quality of these models during inspections and audits.

Testing Real-Time and Embedded Software
Jon Hagar, Lockheed Martin Astronautics

In this workshop, Jon Hagar covers the basic and advanced concepts in testing real-time, embedded software systems. Many of the issues associated with embedded computer systems are common with all testing, but there are special considerations that this workshop will address. Come explore test development, execution, and evaluation of embedded and real-time systems. Exercises and interactive classroom discussions will address common problems, including how system issues impact testing and what the differences mean to you the tester.