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Applying IEEE Standard 829-1998 for Software Test Documentation

Course length - 1 day

There is a great deal of debate among testers and project managers as to how much test planning is sufficient for a good test. Furthermore, testers tend to use common testing terms in non-standard and confusing ways. This course shows you how to understand and apply three major forms of test documentation in your organization!

IEEE standard 829-1998 is a foundational standard that provides a framework for developing software test plans and reports for your own organization and projects. The context of test planning as conveyed in this standard extends from high-level test plans to detailed test cases and procedures and, finally, to test reports. These test documents can extend throughout every project process.

This is a practical workshop with many exercises to help you immediately apply the concepts in the IEEE standards. Your instructor will be a certified instructor in the software engineering field.

You will learn the terminology, process, and challenges of standards in the real world. As a result of attending this seminar, you should have a good working knowledge of some of the most important and helpful software engineering standards and what it takes to make them a reality in your organization. From this workshop, you will leave with a practical understanding of IEEE Standard 829-1998 for Software Test Documentation and how to tailor and apply it in your projects.

Return on Investment

Learn best practices in software engineering
Learn how to develop test plans and test cases appropriate to the level of detail and risk in your projects
Learn what comprises an effective incident report
Understand the key issues in applying the standards
Learn how to tailor the standards to fit your own needs
Quit reinventing the wheel and use proven approaches that have already been fully described for you
Advance your career by reinforcing your knowledge of standards

Who Will Benefit

Test designers
Test engineers
Testers
Software engineers
Project managers
Documentation specialists
QA analysts

Prerequisites

The program requires IT knowledge or experience.
You will need to have a copy of the applicable IEEE Standards for your reference.

Program Information

This course is presented on an in-house basis only unless offered as a special public course. Contact us for information about how to bring this course into your organization.

Content and Structure

Module STDA - Introducing the IEEE Standards

Course Objectives
What is Systems Engineering?
What is Software Systems Engineering?
Why Should We Use Standards?
Basic Principles for Standards
ISO Compared to IEEE
How Standards are Developed
Organization of the SESC Standards
Clauses
Normative vs. Informative
What Is in a Standard?
What Is Not in a Standard?
Where Standards Can Be Obtained?
How to Tailor and Apply Standards
Final Thoughts
Other Resources

Module STDP - Applying IEEE STD 829-1998 For Software Test Documentation - Test Plans

Standard Objectives and Purpose
Benefits of Standardized Test Documentation
Overview of Standard

Test Documentation Structure
Relationship of Test Documents to Testing Process
Structure of the Standard
Scope of the Standard
Terminology

The Test Plan
- Test Plan Outline and Structure
- Considerations of Writing a Test Plan
- Test Objectives
- Example Test Objectives
- Identifying Needed Test Resources
- Planning the Test Environment
- Identifying Functions To Be Tested
- Identifying Interfaces With Other Systems or Components
- Determining Test Schedules
- Finalizing the Plan
- Representative System Test Plan Outline
How Much Time Should be Spent on Test Planning?
- Planning Time Guidelines
Tips for Test Planning

Module STDQ - Applying IEEE STD 829-1998 For Software Test Documentation - Test Specifications

Test Design Specifications
- Considerations on Writing Test Specifications
Test Case Specification
Considerations on Writing Test Cases
- Which Kinds of Test Cases are Needed?
- Tests by Type of Project
- Determining Test Cases Based on Critical Success Factors
- Test Case Economy
- How to Match the Test to the Project and Test Stage
- Rules for Test Applicability
Producer Testing
Customer Testing
Test Script/Case Modularity and Reusability
Organizing the Test Cases
The Decomposition of Test Cases from Test Objectives and Functions
How to be Creative in Test Case Design
Functional Test Cases
Structural Test Cases
Test Procedure Specification
- Considerations on Writing Test Procedures

Module STDR - Applying IEEE 829-1998 For Software Test Documentation - Test Reporting

Test Item Transmittal Report
- Considerations on Writing Test Item Transmittal Reports
- Transmitting Items Between Environments
Test Log
Test Incident Report
Prerequisites for Test Evaluation
Incident Reporting
- Example of a Home-grown Incident Tracking Tool
- The Incident Life Cycle
- Characteristics of Good Incident Report
- Incident Reporting and Tracking - Things You Need to Know
- Sample Defect Categories
- Sample Defect Priorities
- How Can This Data be Used?
Test Summary Report
Charts and Graphs
- Kiviat Charts
- Bar Charts
- Pie Charts
- Defect Trends
Questions to Ask and Answer
Application to IEEE 12207 (Annex C)
- Points of Correlation
Test Reporting Checklist

Module STDS - Applying IEEE STD 830 For Test Documentation - Summary

Course Summary
IEEE 829-1998 Goals
Why is Test Documentation Important?
Test Documentation Structure
Scope of the Standard
Two Phases of Implementing
Usage Guidelines
Test Documents by Activity Level
Other Resources

Resources

Glossary
Bibliography

Deliverables

Course notebook with slides, worksheets, checklists, complete examples and supporting text

Course textbook - The Project Manager's Guide to Software Engineering's Best Practices by Christensen and Thayer

You will have the basic information needed to select, tailor, and implement the appropriate project life cycle for your projects and organization.

Rice Consulting Services, Inc.
P.O. Box 892003
Oklahoma City, OK 73189
405-691-8075

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