MBT in agile/lightweight processes: a process-centred review

Abstract

This study presents a process-driven view on the use of model-based testing (MBT) in agile/lightweight processes. It argues that process-related aspects of MBT and agile processes should be explicitly considered in any practical MBT approach intended for use in agile development (AD). It demonstrates that an effective MBT approach for lightweight processes has to specify how MBT activities are integrated into a development process, how and when MBT artefacts are generated in relation to other development artefacts, and who would carry out MBT activities. Accordingly, a set of integration criteria is introduced for complete incorporation of MBT into agile/lightweight processes. The integration criteria demonstrate the specific characteristics of an appropriate MBT process for AD processes, and help identify the benefits and shortcomings of existing methods on the use of MBT in such processes. Evaluation of existing works based on the proposed integration criteria shows that they have all focused on minimal modelling, and only one method has considered the ‘evolution’ of test models and the ‘reuse’ of test cases, whereas ‘evolution’ and ‘reuse’ are essential characteristics of agile processes, which have to be addressed in any MBT approach intended for such processes.