Rex Black

A follow up to Managing the Test Process, Critical Testing Processes are the prescriptions from Rex Black for successful testing.

Using his experience he guides us through from the initial start testing through to execution. The viewpoint is from the Test Team Manager at fairly high level in the organisation. This is not surprising considering Mr Blacks career as a consultant. ( Click for a bio)

Narratively the style is informative, with clear definintions. These are usually Rex's. I might personally disagree with some of them, they certainly carry the sound of experience.

Each stage of testing is split into processes. A checklist format displays them, with further explanation in the text. A real world example is provided in story format based on a small software house developing a new version of its word processing package.

The chapters cover everything from test models, planning, documentation, estimation, building a test team, the final chapter is on improving the test process.

The book is very light on the nitty gritty of test techniques such as whether to choose path testing or statement testing at the Unit Test level. However as the target audience for this book is not a Unit or System tester, that is not a problem.

The storyline about the new package is sustained throughout the book. However the folksy feel did begin to jar after a while. Especially when everything works out, just a little too neatly.

One example is of a test engineer who needs some career development. At the same time the organisation needs fresh ideas on document management. It just so happens that a conference is taking place in San Diego, on document management. Lo and behold the engineer is encoraged to to attend, for the whole week. The problem is that this uses up one of her only two training events. How unlucky!

On balance though, I suggest that this would be excellent background reading for any prospective team leader or manager.