Improving software testing by observing practice

Abstract

The objective of this qualitative study was to understand the complex practice of software testing, and based on this knowledge, to develop process improvement propositions that could concurrently reduce development and testing costs and improve software quality. First, a survey of testing practices was onducted and 26 organizational units (OUs) were interviewed. From this sample, five OUs were further selected for an in-depth case study. The study used grounded theory as its research method and the data was collected from 41 theme-based interviews. The analysis yielded improvement propositions that included enhanced testability of software components, efficient communication and interaction between development and testing, early involvement of testing, and risk-based testing. The connective and central improvement proposition was that testing ought to adapt to the business orientation of the OU. Other propositions were integrated around this central proposition. The results of this study can be used in improving development and testing processes.