QW2002 Paper 7A1 Mr. James Lyndsay (Workroom Productions Ltd.) & Niel vanEeden (Jobpartners Ltd.) Adventures in Session-based Testing

Key Points

• Session-based testing can control an unscripted test process
• A useful coverage metric for a session-based test process
• Session-based testing provides a foundation for improvement

Presentation Abstract

This presentation describes the way that a UK company controlled and improved ad-hoc testing, and was able to use the knowledge gained as a basis for ongoing, sustained improvement. We detail the methods we used to define test scope, to control the activities of the team and to measure coverage. The story of how these methods were implemented will include details of problems, solutions, and the ways that the methods were improved. We will also cover the ways that their results helped put the case for improvements throughout development, and ways in which the team built on them to arrive at a better overall test process.

About the Author

James Lyndsay is an independent test consultant with more than ten years experience. Specialising in test strategy, he has worked in a range of businesses from banking and telecoms to the web, and pays keen attention to the way that his clients' focus is shifting away from functional testing.

Niel vanEeden is the Test/QA Manager at the UK company in question, and has implemented a process of ongoing improvement to the methods detailed in the presentation.