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Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing - A People-oriented Approach

Author:

William E. Perry
Randall W. Rice

Publisher

Dorset House Publishing Co.

Published

1997

Edition

1

Pages

202

Target Audience

Everybody

Contents

Chapter 1- How testing tests testers
Chapter 2- Does testing test you?
Chapter 3- Challenge # 10 - Getting trained in testing
Chapter 4- Challenge # 9 - Building relationships with developers
Chapter 5- Challenge # 8 - Testing without tools
Chapter 6- Challenge # 7 - explaingin testing to managers
Chapter 7- Challenge # 6 - communicating with customers and users
Chapter 8- Challenge # 5 - making time for testing
Chapter 9- Challenge # 4 - testing what's thrown over the wall
Chapter 10- Challenge # 3 - hitting a moving target
Chapter 11- Challenge # 2 - fighting a lose-lose situation
Chapter 12- Challenge # 1 - having to say no
Chapter 13- plan of action to improve testing

Classifying this book as a management text would be easy; easy, but inaccurate. Communication is not a skill residing only at the management level and ultimately this is the focus of the book.

Everyone involved in the testing process should read this book. Sadly I don't think that this will be the case.

The coal face tester flipping through the contents will notice that there is no discussion of techniques and is likely to put it down.

I often think of testing as a process of communication, indeed I think of the entire development process in the same way, consequently, people are very important.

This is a very optimistic book. Testing is sometimes hard and disillusioning, this book may help you fix the communication problems that you are faced with, but it serves an equally important role as a nodding book. A book that you read and relate to, nod your head, smile and know that everybody else is facing or has faced (and triumphed) with the same problems.

I enjoyed most of the book and my hackles were rarely raised although in chapter 10 when the discussion turns to essential and optional skills It was disconcerting to see "Test Case Design" and "Building a test environment" listed as optional. Fortunately in the supporting table, where roles and their related skills are described, both of these items featured prominently.

This is an excellent book on responsibility and communication.