The Expert Test Manager

Table of contents

1. Introduction
2. Rex Black
3. Leo van der Aalst
4. James L. Rommens
5. Rex Black’s Acknowledgements
6. Leo van der Aalst’s Acknowledgements
7. James L. Rommens’ Acknowledgements
8. 1 Test Missions, Policies, Strategies, and Goals
   1. 1.1 Introduction
   2. 1.2 Mission, Policy, and Metrics of Success
      1. 1.2.1 Identifying Stakeholders
      2. 1.2.2 Understanding the Mission and Objectives
      3. 1.2.3 Measuring Achievement
      4. 1.2.4 Setting and Meeting Goals
   3. 1.3 Test Strategies
      1. 1.3.1 The Contents of the Test Strategy
      2. 1.3.2 Analytical Strategies
      3. 1.3.3 Model-Based Strategies
      4. 1.3.4 Methodical Strategies
      5. 1.3.5 Process- or Standard-Compliant Strategies
      6. 1.3.6 Reactive Strategies
      7. 1.3.7 Consultative Strategies
      8. 1.3.8 Regression-Averse and Test Automation Strategies
      9. 1.3.9 Developing a Workable Test Strategy
   4. 1.4 Alignment of Test Policy and Test Strategy with the Organization
      1. 1.4.1 Practical, Complete, and Consistent Test Policies and Strategies
      2. 1.4.2 Successful Test Policies and Test Strategies
      3. 1.4.3 Achieving Alignment
   5. 1.5 Sample Exam Questions
9. 2 Managing the Test Team
   1. 2.1 Introduction
   2. 2.2 Building the Test Team
      1. 2.2.1 Job Descriptions
      2. 2.2.2 Résumés
      3. 2.2.3 Interviewing
      4. 2.2.4 Selecting the People to Hire
      5. 2.2.5 Bringing People Into the Team
      6. 2.2.6 Termination of Employment
      7. 2.2.7 Ending Contractual Relationships
   3. 2.3 Developing the Test Team
      1. 2.3.1 Developing Individuals
      2. 2.3.2 Setting Goals and Objectives
      3. 2.3.3 Defining Clear Roles and Responsibilities
      4. 2.3.4 Individual Personalities and Roles Within Teams
      5. 2.3.5 Skills Development, Training Opportunities, and Mentoring
      6. 2.3.6 Performance Reviews and Feedback
   4. 2.4 Leading the Test Team
      1. 2.4.1 Information Sharing and Communication
      2. 2.4.2 Fostering Loyalty and Trust
      3. 2.4.3 Team Building
      4. 2.4.4 Motivating and Challenging the Test Team
      5. 2.4.5 Managing Distributed Teams
   5. 2.5 Sample Exam Questions
10. 3 Managing External Relationships
    1. 3.1 Introduction
    2. 3.2 Types of External Relationships
    3. 3.3 Contractual Issues
    4. 3.4 Communication Strategies
       1. 3.4.1 Dimensions of Information Strategies
       2. 3.4.2 Communication Tools
       3. 3.4.3 Other Communication Considerations
    5. 3.5 Integrating from External Sources
    6. 3.6 Merging Test Strategies
    7. 3.7 Verifying Quality
    8. 3.8 Sample Exam Questions
11. 4 Managing Across the Organization
    1. 4.1 Introduction
    2. 4.2 Types of External Relationships
       1. 4.2.1 Promoting and Advocating the Test Organization
       2. 4.2.2 Selling the Value of Testing
       3. 4.2.3 Creating a Defensible Team
       4. 4.2.4 Protecting and Supporting the Team
    3. 4.3 Placement of the Test Team
       1. 4.3.1 Independence and Reporting Structure
       2. 4.3.2 Access to Information
       3. 4.3.3 Skills
    4. 4.4 Stakeholder Communication
    5. 4.5 Creating and Building Relationships
       1. 4.5.1 Random Relationships
       2. 4.5.2 Who You (Should) Know
       3. 4.5.3 A Real Social Network
    6. 4.6 Advocating Quality Activities Across the Organization
    7. 4.7 Integrating Tools Across the Organization
       1. 4.7.1 Purchasing, Selecting, and Acquiring the Multiuse Tool
       2. 4.7.2 Updating, Maintaining, and Supporting the Multiuse Tool
       3. 4.7.3 Converting and Retiring Tools
       4. 4.7.4 The Manager Role with Multiuse Tools
    8. 4.8 Handling Ethical Issues
       1. 4.8.1 Managing the Team’s Ethics
       2. 4.8.2 Interacting with Test Stakeholders and Reporting Test Results
       3. 4.8.3 Test Management Ethics
    9. 4.9 Sample Exam Questions
12. 5 Project Management Essentials
    1. 5.1 Introduction
    2. 5.2 Project Management Tasks
       1. 5.2.1 Test Estimation
       2. 5.2.2 Defining the Testing Schedule
       3. 5.2.3 Budgeting and Resource Allocation
       4. 5.2.4 Managing and Tracking a Project
       5. 5.2.5 Dealing with Trade-Offs
       6. 5.2.6 Change Management
       7. 5.2.7 Time Management
    3. 5.3 Project Risk Management
       1. 5.3.1 Managing Project Risks
       2. 5.3.2 Participating in Project-wide Risk Management
    4. 5.4 Quality Management and Testing
    5. 5.5 Sample Exam Questions
13. 6 Test Project Evaluation and Reporting
    1. 6.1 Introduction
    2. 6.2 Tracking Information
       1. 6.2.1 Burn Baby Burn
    3. 6.3 Evaluating and Using Information — Internal Reporting
       1. 6.3.1 The earlier the better
    4. 6.4 Sharing Information — External Reporting
       1. 6.4.1 Kanban Boards
    5. 6.5 Test Results Reporting and Interpretation
    6. 6.6 Statistical Quality Control Techniques
    7. 6.7 Sample Exam Questions
14. 7 Testing Considerations for Domain and Project Factors
    1. 7.1 Introduction
    2. 7.2 Test Management Considerations for Lifecycle Models
       1. 7.2.1 Comparison of Lifecycle Models
       2. 7.2.2 Waterfall and Agile Models
       3. 7.2.3 Testing Concepts in Agile Approaches
       4. 7.2.4 Changed Role of Test Manager in Agile Approaches
    3. 7.3 Managing Partial Lifecycle Projects
       1. 7.3.1 Integration Projects
       2. 7.3.2 Maintenance Projects
       3. 7.3.3 Hardware/Software and Embedded Systems Projects
       4. 7.3.4 Safety-critical Systems Projects
    4. 7.4 Release Advice and Considerations
       1. 7.4.1 Release Advice
       2. 7.4.2 Release Considerations
    5. 7.5 Sample Exam Questions
15. 8 Evaluating Effectiveness and Efficiency
    1. 8.1 Introduction
    2. 8.2 Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Satisfaction Metrics for the Test Process
    3. 8.3 Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Satisfaction Metrics for the Test Policy Objectives
    4. 8.4 Project Retrospectives
    5. 8.5 Sample Exam Questions
16. Appendix A: The Expert Test Manager Exams
17. Appendix B: Answers and Explanations for Chapter Sample Questions