The Expert Test Manager: Guide to the ISTQB Expert Level Certification

by Rex Black, James L. Rommens, Leo van der Aalst

Overview

This book covers the ISTQB Expert Level Test Manager syllabus and is a complete, one-stop preparation guide for the reader who is otherwise qualified (based on experience as a test manager) to take the Expert Level Test Manager exam. Included are extensive hands-on exercises and sample exam questions that comply with ISTQB standards for Expert Level exams.

The ISTQB certification program is the leading software tester certification program in the world. With more than 500,000 certificates issued and a global presence in 70 countries, you can be confident in the value and international stature that the ISTQB Expert Level certificate can offer you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781933952949
Publisher:	Rocky Nook
Publication date:	04/28/2017
Pages:	500
Product dimensions:	7.40(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

With over a quarter-century of software and systems engineering experience, Rex Black is President of Rex Black Consulting Services (www.rbcs-us.com), a leader in software, hardware, and systems testing. For over fifteen years RBCS has delivered services in consulting, outsourcing, and training for software and hardware testing. Employing the industry's most experienced and recognized consultants, RBCS conducts product testing, builds and improves testing groups, and hires testing staff for hundreds of clients worldwide. Ranging from Fortune 20 companies to start-ups, RBCS clients save time and money through improved product development, decreased tech support calls, improved corporate reputation, and more.

As the leader of RBCS, Rex is the most prolific author practicing in the field of software testing today. His popular first book, Managing the Testing Process, has sold over 40,000 copies around the world, including Japanese, Chinese, and Indian releases, and is now in its third edition. His six other books on testing-Advanced Software Testing: Volumes I, II, and III, Critical Testing Processes, Foundations of Software Testing, and Pragmatic Software Testing-have also sold tens of thousands of copies, including Hebrew, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian editions. He has written over thirty articles; presented hundreds of papers, workshops, and seminars; and given about fifty keynote and other speeches at conferences and events around the world. Rex is the immediate past President of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) and a Director of the American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ASTQB).

Leo van der Aalst holds almost 30 years of IT experience. After having gone through the classic path (from programmer to project manager) Leo has specialized since 1990 in the test field, in which he held positions such as test manager, test consultant and line manager of a test organization.

His knowleEAe and experience in the project- and test management field have been used and developed further during a number of international projects and consultancy trajectories (a.o. in USA, Germany, Denmark, Austria and in the Netherlands).

He was the Development Lead of the ISTQB Foundation and Advanced Agile-Tester Syllabi and professor Software Quality at Fontys University(Eindhoven, The Netherlands). Besides all this Leo is an Agile coach at Sogeti Netherlands and is co-author of the TMap NEXT, TMap NEXT BDTM and TMap NEXT in scrum books.

Finally, Leo is a much sought-after teacher of test training, a regular speaker on national- and international conferences, and he is the author of several articles.

Jim Rommens (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimrommens) is a seasoned, accomplished project manager, having worked at major companies in industries such as telecommunications, energy, medical systems and health care. Beginning his career in PC support and software development, Jim moved to management positions, including those of project manager as well as supporting project managers in various PMOs (project management offices). He has assumed other roles, such as business analyst and tester, making him well-versed in the various roles of the SDLC (software development life cycle).

Jim has a truly eclectic background with many varied interests, including project management, quality management and customer service, teaching and training, writing and editing, and career development and mentoring others.

For most of his adult life, Jim has maintained a strong interest in continuing education and possesses two graduate degrees (MS in Computer Science and MA in Theological Studies), an undergraduate business degree in market research and industrial and organizational psychology, and has achieved further certification and training as a Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Certified Tester Foundation Level (CTFL), Certified Tester Foundation Level – Agile Tester Extension (CTFL – Agile Test Extension), and Test Manager – Advanced Level. Jim’s interests have also extended to quality and efficiency areas with a Lean Sigma Technician certification and public speaking as a Dale Carnegie graduate.

Jim incorporates key learnings and experiences from these various fields in his teaching classes as an adjunct instructor from the graduate level to the associates level for both online and classroom-led courses in the areas of project management, quality, and computer systems.

Jim’s prime motivators in life, extending beyond career and job, follow the acronym APV – the ability to do a job well, the passion to do high-quality work, and the value inherent in his work for others. This work for others transcends the business world into various service and volunteer opportunities, including previously held church roles such as that of deacon; serving at a nursing home through one-on-one visits, playing group games and delivering church sermons; tutoring inner-city students, and packing and delivering meals for the elderly and shut-ins.

Table of Contents

Introduction xi

Rex Black xv

Leo van der Aalst xvii

James L. Rommens xix

Rex Black's Acknowledgements xxi

Leo van der Aalst's Acknowledgements xxiii

James L. Rommens' Acknowledgements xxv

1 Test Missions, Policies, Strategies, and Goals 1

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Mission, Policy, and Metrics of Success 2

1.2.1 Identifying Stakeholders 3

1.2.2 Understanding the Mission and Objectives 4

1.2.3 Measuring Achievement 7

1.2.4 Selling and Meeting Goals 11

1.3 Test Strategies 14

1.3.1 The Contents of the Test Strategy 14

1.3.2 Analytical Strategies 18

1.3.3 Model-Based Strategies 21

1.3.4 Methodical Strategies 23

1.3.5 Process- or Standard-Compliant Strategies 25

1.3.6 Reactive Strategies 27

1.3.7 Consultative Strategies 29

1.3.8 Regression-Averse and Test Automation Strategies 30

1.3.9 Developing a Workable Test Strategy 32

1.4 Alignment of Test Policy and Test Strategy with the Organization 34

1.4.1 Practical, Complete, and Consistent Test Policies and Strategies 34

1.4.2 Successful Test Policies and Test Strategies 36

1.4.3 Achieving Alignment 37

1.5 Sample Exam Questions 39

2 Managing the Test Team 43

2.1 Introduction 43

2.2 Building the Test Team 44

2.2.1 Job Descriptions 46

2.2.2 Résumés 48

2.2.3 Interviewing 49

2.2.4 Selecting the People to Hire 56

2.2.5 Bringing People Into the Team 57

2.2.6 Termination of Employment 59

2.2.7 Ending Contractual Relationships 61

2.3 Developing the Test Team 63

2.3.1 Developing Individuals 64

2.3.2 Setting Goals and Objectives 66

2.3.3 Denning Clear Roles and Responsibilities 70

2.3.4 Individual Personalities and Roles Within Teams 76

2.3.5 Skills Development, Training Opportunities, and Mentoring 80

2.3.6 Performance Reviews and Feedback 83

2.4 Leading the Test Team 84

2.4.1 Information Sharing and Communication 85

2.4.2 Fostering Loyalty and Trust 89

2.4.3 Team Building 90

2.4.4 Motivating and Challenging the Test Team 93

2.4.5 Managing Distributed Teams 95

2.5 Sample Exam Questions 97

3 Managing External Relationships 105

3.1 Introduction 105

3.2 Types of External Relationships 106

3.3 Contractual Issues 108

3.4 Communication Strategies 111

3.4.1 Dimensions of Information Strategies 111

3.4.2 Communication Tools 114

3.4.3 Other Communication Considerations 115

3.5 Integrating from External Sources 117

3.6 Merging Test Strategies 119

3.7 Verifying Quality 123

3.8 Sample Exam Questions 127

4 Managing Across the Organization 131

4.1 Introduction 131

4.2 Types of External Relationships 132

4.2.1 Promoting and Advocating the Test Organization 133

4.2.2 Selling the Value of Testing 137

4.2.3 Creating a Defensible Team 143

4.2.4 Protecting and Supporting the Team 147

4.3 Placement of the Test Team 158

4.3.1 Independence and Reporting Structure 158

4.3.2 Access to Information 160

4.3.3 Skills 161

4.4 Stakeholder Communication 163

4.5 Creating and Building Relationships 167

4.5.1 Random Relationships 168

4.5.2 Who You (Should) Know 172

4.5.3 A Real Social Network 176

4.6 Advocating Quality Activities Across the Organization 177

4.7 Integrating Tools Across the Organization 181

4.7.1 Purchasing, Selecting, and Acquiring the Multiuse Tool 182

4.7.2 Updating, Maintaining, and Supporting the Multiuse Tool 183

4.7.3 Converting and Retiring Tools 184

4.7.4 The Manager Role with Multiuse Tools 185

4.8 Handling Ethical Issues 186

4.8.1 Managing the Team's Ethics 187

4.8.2 Interacting with Test Stakeholders and Reporting Test Results 188

4.8.3 Test Management Ethics 189

4.9 Sample Exam Questions 192

5 Project Management Essentials 199

5.1 Introduction 199

5.2 Project Management Tasks 201

5.2.1 Test Estimation 202

5.2.2 Denning the Testing Schedule 209

5.2.3 Budgeting and Resource Allocation 211

5.2.4 Managing and Tracking a Project 214

5.2.5 Dealing with Trade-Offs 217

5.2.6 Change Management 220

5.2.7 Time Management 221

5.3 Project Risk Management 223

5.3.1 Managing Project Risks 226

5.3.2 Participating in Project-wide Risk Management 232

5.4 Quality Management and Testing 235

5.5 Sample Exam Questions 239

6 Test Project Evaluation and Reporting 245

6.1 Introduction 245

6.2 Tracking Information 246

6.2.1 Burn Baby Bum 251

6.3 Evaluating and Using Information - Internal Reporting 253

6.3.1 The earlier the better 255

6.4 Sharing Information - External Reporting 260

6.4.1 Kanban Boards 264

6.5 Test Results Reporting and Interpretation 267

6.6 Statistical Quality Control Techniques 278

6.7 Sample Exam Questions 281

7 Testing Considerations for Domain and Project Factors 285

7.1 Introduction 285

7.2 Test Management Considerations for Lifecycle Models 286

7.2.1 Comparison of Lifecycle Models 287

7.2.2 Waterfall and Agile Models 287

7.2.3 Testing Concepts in Agile Approaches 294

7.2.4 Changed Role of Test Manager in Agile Approaches 296

7.3 Managing Partial Lifecycle Projects 297

7.3.1 Integration Projects 297

7.3.2 Maintenance Projects 301

7.3.3 Hardware/Software and Embedded Systems Projects 305

7.3.4 Safety-critical Systems Projects 309

7.4 Release Advice and Considerations 313

7.4.1 Release Advice 313

7.4.2 Release Considerations 314

7.5 Sample Exam Questions 317

8 Evaluating Effectiveness and Efficiency 321

8.1 Introduction 321

8.2 Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Satisfaction Metrics for the Test Process 322

8.3 Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Satisfaction Metrics for the Test Policy Objectives 330

8.4 Project Retrospectives 333

8.5 Sample Exam Questions 337

Appendix A The Expert Test Manager Exams 339

Appendix B Answers and Explanations for Chapter Sample Questions 345

Index 371