Page 26 - SOFTWARE TESTING & QUALITY ASSURANCE

Unit 2: Fundamentals of Software Testing

2.2.1 Tasks of a Software Tester
Software testers are quality champions who are involved in various activities of the testing life cycle.
Testers co-ordinate with developers and conduct test case reviews of project areas.
The tasks of a software tester are as follows:
1. To ensure that the test methodology, techniques, and standards are established, developed and
documented.

2. To study and understand the requirements and accordingly prepare verification and validation
test plans.
3. To impact product quality by understanding customer needs.
4. To develop test plans, test scenarios, and test cases.
5. To prepare the test data and execute test cases.

6. To automate test cases.
7. To perform both verification and validation testing of the hardware and the software.
8. To prepare test reports and maintain test records.
9. To submit reports that details the schedule progress, the defects and the usability of the product.
10. To track defects and ensure closure of defects through reviews.

Goal of a software tester
The main goal of a software tester is to find bugs as early as possible and ensure that
they are fixed at the earliest.

2.2.2 Qualities of a Software Tester
Testing profession requires a methodical and disciplined approach and hence a good software tester
should possess strong analytical skills with good domain knowledge.
The following are the qualities of a good software tester:
1. Have a strong desire for quality.
2. Be explorative in approach to venture unknown situations.
3. Have a creative and relentless approach to discover bugs.
4. Be tactful and diplomatic with developers while conveying where the software lacks.

5. Possess good ability to understand customer needs.
6. Be able to compromise between the available resources and be in a position to focus on the most
likely areas of bugs when there is insufficient time.
7. Possess good judgment skills to assess high-risk areas of an application.
8. Be sharp enough to observe the small changes.

9. Have a good understanding about the software development process.
10. Be technically aware of testing methods, tools, and criteria.
2.3 Software Testing Axioms
The world of software testing is not just dictated by the models discussed and followed. In reality there
are many trade-offs software testing effort faces. In the current day scenario, it is less likely that clients
are able to determine every requirement analysis aspect in one-go.

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