QWE2002 Paper 8A Mr. James Lyndsay (Workroom Productions) The Importance of Data in Functional Testing

Key Points

• Plan the data for maintenance and flexibility
• Know your data, and make its structure and content transparent
• Use the data to improve understanding throughout testing and the business

Presentation Abstract

Good data can help improve functional testing. Test data can be structured to improve understanding and testability. Its contents, correctly chosen, can reduce maintenance effort and allow flexibility. Preparation of the data can focus the business where requirements are vague.

About the Author

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