Testing

What is testing?

         

            The process of detecting and identifying defects, where a defect is any variance between actual and expected results

Testing also involves:

-          Reporting the above and

-          Taking necessary corrective measures

What is Quality?

              The totality of features and characteristics of a product or service that bear on its ability to satisfy stated or implied needs.

Quality assurance (QA):

             Quality assurance is the planned and systematic activities implemented within the quality system and demonstrated as needed to provide adequate confidence that an entity will fulfill requirements for quality.

The difference between QA and testing:

               Software QA involves the entire software development PROCESS - monitoring and improving the process, making sure that any agreed-upon standards and procedures are followed, and ensuring that problems are found and dealt with. It is oriented to 'prevention'

               Testing involves operation of a system or application under controlled conditions and evaluating the results (e.g., 'if the user is in interface A of the application while using hardware B, and does C, then D should happen'). The controlled conditions should include both normal and abnormal conditions. Testing should intentionally attempt to make things go wrong to determine if things happen when they shouldn't or things don't happen when they should. It is oriented to 'detection'

Role of QA in a development project:

                  The QA function plans and implements the QA activities to ensure that the required processes and standards are followed. They collect and analyze project metric data, co-ordinate formal reviews and audits and participate in informal reviews. Also they maintain noncompliance issues list under CM(Configuration Management) control, observe testing and inspect test reports and verify deliverables for conformance to standards

What is a process?

A Process may be defined as:

•           'a particular course of action intended to achieve a result' or more specifically as

•           a set of logically related tasks performed to achieve a defined business outcome