1. Fundamentals of Testing

Question 1

What is Software Testing?

Answer 1

Set of activities to discover defects and evaluate the quality of software artifacts

Question 2

What is another name for artifacts?

Answer 2

Test Objects

Question 3

What are the TWO common misconceptions of testing?

Answer 3

1. Testing is that it only consists of executing tests.
2. Testing focuses entirely on verifying the test object.

Question 4

What does testing also include?

Answer 4

1. Testing also includes other activities and must be aligned with the software development lifecycle
2. Validation, which means checking whether the system meets users’ and other stakeholders

Question 5

What is the different between Static vs Dynamic Testing?

Answer 5

1. Static Testing involves reviewing and analysing code, design and document without executing the software.
2. Dynamic Testing involves executing the software and testing it’s behaviours.

Question 6

What are the FIVE involvements of testing. That does not involve a technical activity?

Answer 6

Planned
Managed
Estimated
Monitored
Controlled

Question 7

The difference between testing and debugging?

Answer 7

Testing determines that defects exist while debugging removes defects

Question 8

What is the debugging process?

Answer 8

Reproduction of the failure
Diagnosis (root cause)
Fixing the cause

Question 9

What are all NINE test objectives?

Answer 9

1. Evaluating work products.
2. Triggering failures and finding defects.
3. Ensuring required coverage of a test object.
4. Reducing the level of risk of inadequate software quality.
5. Verifying whether specified requirements have been fulfilled.
6. Verifying that a test object complies with legal requirements.
7. Providing information to stakeholders to allow them to make informed decisions.
8. Building confidence in the quality of the test object.
9. Validating whether the test object is complete and works as expected by the stakeholder.

Question 10

Why is testing necessary?

Answer 10

1. Provides a cost effective means of detecting defects.
2. Evaluating the quality of the test object at various stages in the SDLC.
3. Provides users with indirect representation on the development project.
4. Required to meet legal requirements.

Question 11

Is testing and QA the same?

Answer 11

No, testing is a form of quailty control.

Question 12

What approach does QC uses?

Answer 12

QC is a product orientated, corrective approach.

Focuses on supporting the achievement of appropriate levels of quality.

Question 13

What approach does QA uses?

Answer 13

QA is a process oriented, preventive approach.

Focuses on the implementation and improvement of the processes.

Question 14

What’s the difference between QA vs QC test results?

Answer 14

QC uses test results to fix defects.

QA uses test results as a form of feedback

Question 15

Humans being make errors. What might lead to one?

Answer 15

1. Time pressure
2. complexity of work product
3. processes
4. infrastructure
5. lack of training/tired

Question 16

Where can defects be found?

Answer 16

1. Documentions, requirements specifications or test scripts
2. Source code
3. Build file

Question 17

Errors and defects are not the only causes of failures. What else can trigger a failure?

Answer 17

Environmental conditions.

Question 18

What is used to indentify a root casue?

Answer 18

Through a root cause analysis.

When a failure occurs or a defect is identified.

Question 19

Explain the SEVEN testing principles?

Answer 19

1. Testing shows the presence, not the absence of defects.
2. Exhaustive testing is impossible.
3. Early testing saves time and money.
4. Defects cluster together.
5. Tests wear out.
6. Testing is context dependent.
7. Absence of defects fallacy.

Question 20

What are the different test activities and tasks?

Answer 20

1. Test planning
2. Test monitoring and control
3. Test analysis (“What to test?”)
4. Test design (“How to test?”)
5. Test implementation
6. Test execution
7. Test completion

Question 21

Explain the impact of context on the test process?

Answer 21

1. Stakeholders
2. Team members
3. Business domain
4. Technical factors
5. Project constraints
6. Organisational factors
7. SDLC
8. Tools

Question 22

Differentiate the testware that supports the test activities?

Answer 22

1. Test planning work products
2. Test monitoring and control work products
3. Test analysis work products
4. Test design work products
5. Test implementation work products
6. Test execution work products
7. Test completion work products

Question 23

Explain the value of maintaining traceability?

Answer 23

1. Traceability of test cases to requirements can verify that the requirements are covered by test
   cases.
2. Traceability of test results to risks can be used to evaluate the level of residual risk in a test
   object.

Good traceability also makes test progress and completion reports more easily understandable by including the status of test basis elements. This can also assist in communicating the technical aspects of testing to stakeholders in an understandable manner.

Traceability provides information to assess product quality, process capability, and project progress against business goals.

Question 24

Compare the different roles in testing?

Answer 24

1. Test management role
   Duties: Takes the responsibility for the test process, test team and leadership of the test activities. Mainly focuses on test planning, test monitoring and control and test competition.
2. Testing role
   Duties: Takes the responsibility for the engineering aspect of testing. Mainly focuses on test analysis, test design, test implementation and test execution.

Question 25

Give examples of the generic skills required for testing?

Answer 25

1. Testing knowledge 2. Technical knowledge 3. Domain knowledge 4. Thoroughness, carefulness, curiosity, attention to details, being methodical 5. Good communication skills 6. Analytical thinking, critical thinking, creativity

Question 26

Recall the advantages of the whole team approach?

Answer 26

1. The whole team approach improves team dynamics, enhances communication and collaboration within the team, and creates synergy by allowing the various skill sets within the team to be leveraged for the benefit of the project. 2. Testers can thus transfer testing knowledge to other team members and influence the development of the product.

Question 27

Distinguish the benefits and drawbacks of independence of testing?

Answer 27

1. Benefits Their own different backgrounds, technical perspective, and biases. Can verify, challenge, or disprove assumptions made by stakeholders during specification and implementation of the system. 2. Drawbacks Isolated from the development team, lack of communication, collaboration, relationship within the development team. Developers may lose a sense of responsibility for quality. Bottleneck or be blame for delays in release.