Review By: David Fern
01/16/2009This book contains high-level references to the HP suite of software testing tools including Quality Center (QC) and QuickTest Professional (QTP). It also describes the HP security tool set, dashboard, and the "HP Software Quality Continuum," which is HP's method to determine the state of an organizations software testing maturity. (This is comparable to CMM and the basis for the Testing Center of Excellence.) Also, you can find examples of the all-too-familiar HP test flight application.

I think this is a great, entry-level book for those new to software testing. It explains, at a high level, strategies applicable to testing any type software architecture using proven techniques, which will probably stand the test of time. If you are interested in learning about newer concepts such as Agile or exploratory testing, then this is not the book for you as it focuses on more conservative, tried-and-true principles.

Filled with great examples and analogies that you can easily relate to, the authors walk you through strategies and tips you can start applying immediately to get the right business requirements, systematically establish test rules, create better test cases, and balance risk and effort through business impact testing. The authors also discuss the importance of non-functional testing, application security testing theory and tools, and some of the challenges and strategies of outsourcing.

To me the most novel idea was the section on establishing a goal-driven KPI approach to a successful testing endeavor. The authors use the acronym "SUCCESSFUL" as the basis to selecting and implementing the correct KPIs for an organization.

SUCCESSFUL stands for:

Set business goals
Understand the impact of departments on those business goals
Choose supporting business processes
Create business-process goals
Examine what to measure
Standardize measurements across departments
Scope data source and integration needs
Formalize indicators and thresholds
Utilize and execute appropriate action plans
Lay the groundwork and baseline

I recommend this book to those new to or learning the test profession. It is an easy read full of valuable information that can be use in your next software testing project.