Test scenario modeling: Modeling test scenarios diagrammatically using specification based testing techniques

Abstract

Software testing is a challenging task involving evaluation of the software to demonstrate that it meets the requirements and also to provide stakeholders with information about the quality of the application under test. Scenario testing is done to make sure that the end to end functioning of software is working fine, or all the business process flows of the software are working fine. However exhaustive testing of any software application is not possible because of (a) large number of input data combinations or (b) large number of possible paths in software. The popular Model Based Testing approach uses a Unified Modeling Language (UML) model of the system under test to auto generate test cases with good coverage. However UML is a modeling language used in software development. This paper introduces an innovative idea of using test scenario modeling diagrams representing black box testing techniques for test scenario modeling to ensure better coverage and traceability to requirements. These test scenario modeling diagrams, presented as an alternative to UML, will help test executives interpret Quality Assurance (QA) mappings and Test Scenario overview capturing. Also the diagrams introduced help the test planning and control activities by providing more in-depth connectivity to the technical aspects and business risks.