Testing Groups

Owned by Mike Deskis
Last updated: May 03, 2024 by Ioana Kocurova
2 min read

This lesson describes mainly how testers are organized and what they do.

Learning Objectives

Understand the skills and expertise in a test group and explores the different tasks that testers typically perform. Get familiarised with the differences between in-house testing and outsourcing to external test organizations.

Core Topics and Takeaways

  • Test techniques

  • How test groups are organized

  • Typical tasks for testers

  • Project goals vs Test team goals

  • Verification and validation

Video Highlights

Topic

Key Concepts

Video Location

Topic

Key Concepts

Video Location

Test techniques are like recipes, describing different aspects of a type of test, but they don't cover all the details such as equipment, lab setup, or automation.

  • Domain testing teaches us how to analyze a program and design individual tests.

  • Different techniques focus on different aspects of testing.

  • Test techniques are like stepping stones in a river of confusion when learning about testing.

  • Testing efforts can be organized differently in different companies.

00:01

Informal communication networks are common in American companies, especially those that produce intellectual property like software.

  • Informal networks allow testers to communicate with a variety of people, not just other testers or project managers.

  • Diverse skills and backgrounds in a test group are important for identifying weaknesses and blind spots.

  • Testers in software publishing companies become experts in the product, analyzing specifications, hunting for bugs, and developing tools for efficiency.

02:18

Test groups in software companies have diverse tasks and missions, which can vary from bug hunting to quality advocacy or integration into development teams.

  • Test groups in software companies perform various tasks beyond bug hunting and writing bug reports.

  • The tasks performed by test groups can differ greatly between companies.

  • The mission of a test group reflects the group's self-image and reason for existing.

  • Test groups can see themselves as bug hunters, quality advocates, or as part of a development team.

04:40

Learning Highlights

Understand the strategy in achieving information objectives, and major concepts, including the mission of testing, diversity in test groups, and different tasks performed by test groups. The lecture distinguishes between project-specific and group mission, highlighting the self-image and services provided by test groups. It also addresses organizational variations and makes assumptions about the audience's context within the course.

Core Learning Concepts

Verification

Verification involves ensuring that the product is being built according to the requirements and design specification.

Validation

Validation involves confirming that the product meets the customer's needs and expectations.

In quality assurance and testing, these processes are crucial for ensuring the correctness and quality of the software or product being developed.

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