Key Points

• Review the waterfall approach to software development
• Review the V-model approach to software development
• Learn how verification and validation testing is performed using the V-Model
• Understanding the problems encountered in software waterfall development
• Learn the characteristics of rapid application development
• How to apply Deming's quality improvement principles for generically
• How to apply Deming's quality principles to the rapid application development (RAD) development approach
• Contrast the psychology of testing between the waterfall and RAD development
• Learn the phases, tasks and steps of the continuous quality improvement testing methodology

Presentation Abstract

Rapid application development (RAD) methodologies are a reaction to the traditional waterfall systems development in which a product evolves in sequential phases. A common problem with the life cycle development model is that the elapsed time to deliver the product can be excessive with user involvement only at the very beginning and very end. As a result, the system that they are given is often not what they originally requested.

By contrast, RAD development expedites product delivery. A small but functioning initial system is built and quickly delivered, and then enhanced in a series of iterations. One advantage is that the users receive at least some functionality quickly. Another advantage is that the product can be shaped by iterative feedback, i.e. users do not have to define every feature correctly and in full detail at the beginnning of the development cycle, but can react to each iteration. One common mistake is that during the process the requirments are not documented during each iteration and the does not exist as a "final" requirements document, just the system.

RAD or spiral testing is dynamic and may never be completed in the traditional sense of a delivered system's completeness. The term "spiral" refers to the fact that the traditional sequence of analysis-design-code-test phases are performed on a micro scale within each spiral or cycle in a short period of time, and then the phases are repeated within each subsequent cycle.

Learn how to apply Dr. Edwards Deming's continuous quality improvement techniques which where originally used in the manufacturing setting. They are applied as a continuous quality improvement testing methdology which is superimposed over Deming's plan-do-check-act quality wheel.

About the Speaker

Bill Lewis has 35 years experience in the computing industry. Currently as a senior technology engineer he trains and consults in the requirements-based testing area which focuses on leading-edge testing methods and tools. He teaches Writing Testable Requirements, Requirements-Based Testing, Ambiguity Reviews, Reviewing Requirements Using RM and numerous seminars. He is also an active client practitioner of TBI's Caliber-RBT, a requirements-based functional test case design tool.

Before joining TBI, he was an assistant director for Ernst & Young, LLP for 6 years as the quality/ testing manager for several E&Y application development projects. He was also the senior project manager for the ISO9000 project resulting in a successful international certification. Bill authored several technical and methods development handbooks for E&Y. Prior to that he was a quality analyst in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (ARAMCO).

The majority of Bill's career was at IBM for 28 years. His jobs included system programmer, analyst, performance analyst and technical instructor. With IBM, Bill has consulted and trained all over the world, including Amsterdam, South Hampton, Toronto, Rome, Seoul Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Sydney, Australia, and the U.S.

His first job out of college was with the Apollo Support Department for General Electric at the Kennedy Space Center as a real-time programmer for the Apollo project. After completing his service committment, he worked for Radiation, Inc. as a real-time programmer on the Nimbus-D satellite program.

Bill is a prolific communicator having lectured at various quality organizations including the Quality Assurance Institute (QAI) Fourth International Quality Conference, the American Society for Quality, and Association of Information Technology Practitioners. His has also taught computer courses as a part-time adjunct professor for five years and authored five books on computer problem solving. In 2000 he recently authored a book entitled "Sofware Testing and Continuous Quality Improvement" which is the basis of this seminar.

Bill holds a BA degree in Mathematics from the University of Miami, Florida and an MS in Operations Research from the University of Central Florida. He is also a Certified Quality Analyst (CQA) and Certified Software Test Engineer (CSTE) through the Quality Assurance Institute.