Quality cannot be tested into software, it must be designed
in and built in. Understanding and accepting this simple principle can be the
first step to preventing serious system defects from reaching users.
Projects
that routinely rely on the system test team to uncover major implementation mistakes
are bound to fail. The system test phase occurs too late in the life cycle to
make major improvements to the overall quality of the product. Projects striving
for high quality and rapid time to market need to adopt an attitude that it is
unacceptable for software that does not meet requirements to even reach the system
test phase.
Instituting this attitude requires agreement on roles and responsibilities
throughout the entire project team. System Testing with an Attitude explains
how to cultivate productive relationships between developers and system testers
and stresses the importance of identifying and delineating the responsibilities
of each group, which can prevent problems in the system before system testing
even begins.
However, changing attitudes and allocating responsibilities
is only part of the formula for system testing success. The system test team needs
a technical and procedural framework to achieve excellence in performing its allocated
responsibilities. The book provides system testing solutions that will help you:
- set the right priorities for system testing (which simultaneously
clarifies the role of developer testing)
- understand the users of your
software
- build well-documented, repeatable, data-dimensional system
tests that cover typical business flows
- reduce test-execution costs through
the use of automated test tools
- manage the end game of the software development
process effectively
- institute a comprehensive measurement program that
keeps progress visible and accountability clear
Testers, managers,
and developers who are ready to improve their software development process should
read this book.
Reviews
". . . this book contains all the right stuff, and
it is well written. There aren't exactly standards for
writing a book on system testing, but if there were,
this book would meet them.
". . . this is by far the best game in town on the
subject of system testing."
—R.L. Glass
ACM Reviews.com
"Projects striving for high quality and rapid time
to market must adopt an attitude that makes it unacceptable
for software that does not meet requirements to even reach
the system test phase. . . .
"Testers, managers, and developers who
are ready to improve their software development process should read this book."
—Michael
J. Lutz
IEEE Computer
"An exceptionally well-written book that explores concepts
of system testing and goes on to present a philosophy
that can be readily applied on any software project.
. . .
"What sets this book apart is the author's free use
of examples, tables and diagrams that eases the understanding
of the material. A handy reference for experts and a
classic for the rest."
—R. Betala
posted on Amazon.com
". . . this has got to be one of the best books
on System Testing that's available for those of us in
the game of Formal System Testing. . . .
"I urge you to buy this book, read it, and use
the information contained within. You'll do a better
job of System Testing if you do that."
—Rodger Drabick
author of Best
Practices for the Formal
Software Testing Process
"Part I covers system-testing issues,
and Petschenik actually begins his book with a test
on system testing. (I like the strategy of starting
a test book with a test.) This self-assessment grounds
the audience and gives us a good window into the book.
. . .
"What is refreshing is the acknowledgement
that proper and successful system testing requires everyone
to understand the various roles throughout the entire
development
process. . . .
"Petschenik demonstrates quality,
not quantity, with good structure and balance . . .
"I recommend this book to my project
teams and will encourage them to conduct the sort of
role-awareness seminar Petschenik describes."
—Laura Rose
The Rational Edge
"As a former test manager, I would
have found this book very useful in helping me to understand
both my role within the organization, and the issues
inherent in that role. I would also recommend it for
development managers and project managers; the basic
premise (clearly defined roles, agreed to by all parties)
makes too much sense to be ignored."
—Joe Saur
ACM Engineering Notes
". . . an informed and informative
understanding of the problems and issues often confronted
in computer oriented careers. Providing its readers
with an invaluable approach to the proper application
of system testing and developer-led testing, understanding
the software's user, reduction of system-test costs,
and increase of productivity by methodical technique
and tool utilization, management of the "end game" of
software developmental effectiveness, and institution
of comprehensive measurement programming, System
Testing With An Attitude is a superbly presented,
"user-friendly" collection of accessibly helpful, usefully
practical, readily applicable information. System
Testing With An Attitude is very highly recommended
. . ."
—Midwest Book Review
"System Testing With an Attitude deals
specifically with system testing and is a change from
other software testing books, which try to squeeze
all levels of test into one book.
". . . PetschenikÕs writing style is down-to-earth
and quite refreshing. There are no ten-dollar words,
and he speaks from practical experience. He uses a
lot of personal examples and even gives the reader
an opportunity to walk through a few exercises to
grasp the concepts discussed.
"Now that I have read System Testing With
an Attitude, I have the ammunition I need to fight
back. I now have the ability to present the argument,
with teeth I was lacking before. . . . I now have
the ability to make it a win-win situation for all
concerned. I recommend that this book be on your shelf."
—Terry Stewart
StickyMinds.com
