Test Management: ISTQB Advanced

Course Outline
General Description
What can tests tell you about the quality of your software? And how much testing do
you need? This course will introduce you to various organizational aspects of software
test. You will learn how to design your testing process effectively and efficiently and
how to predict your efforts in time and cost. You will understand different approaches
to testing and find ways to choose from a variety of different test scenarios.
In a hands-on approach you will practice planning, controlling and monitoring
software tests within your project (operative test management). We’ll examine how to
introduce, anchor and continually improve software tests as an effective, established
process within your company (strategic test management).
We’ll discuss various documents related to test planning (IEEE Std. 829-1998), the
fundamental concepts of fault management (IEEE Std. 1044-1993), risk management and
test management, and their interrelationships. The participants learn what quality
information and fault statistics can be gained through the testing process, and how this
objective test data can be used to make well-founded product-release decisions.
This section also includes an overview of the various organizational designs seen in
software testing practice. Participants are helped to choose the optimum organizational
design for their own situation. A “testing center” case study shows the factors to be
considered in the successful organization of software tests.
When the test process has been set up and is running, the next stage is test process
improvement. Adapting and optimizing the various processes is a constant challenge
for the test manager. Participants learn various models of process improvement and
discover how the models can be applied. The main focus is placed on adapted models
for improving the test process.
As a practical exercise, participants go through the steps of applying a process
improvement model.
The seminar is rounded off with an examination of the role of the tester within the
company – the unusual situation of the tester as well as the specialist knowledge and
social skills they will need.
This seminar is the ideal preparation for the Test Manager examination – part of the
“ISTQB Certified Tester Advanced Level” certification. The course sticks closely to the
subject matter behind the test standard and deepens understanding with case studies
and exercises. It is possible to take the examination directly at the end of the seminar.

Learning Objectives
Through presentation, discussion, and hands-on exercises, attendees will learn to:

Test Management ISTQB Advanced (v1.0) 1 Copyright © 1999-2006, Rex Black, All Rights Reserved
 Course Outline

• Understand the goals, strategies, and tactics of effective and efficient testing.
• Become familiar with possibilities to assess and improve the testing process
• Become familiar with means to estimate your testing effort
• Know how to decide how much test you need

Session Plan
Day One
Introductions, objectives and overview
Definition of software test
§ The V-Model
§ Terms in testing
§ Other SW-development models

The generic test process

§ Test planning
§ Test specification
§ Implementing tests
§ Test execution
§ Test protocol
§ Test end criteria

Exercise: Evaluating the test process in your company

Test management
§ Test management documents
§ Test plan according to IEEE Std. 829

Example: Virtual showroom

Exercise: Defining testing tasks
Day Two
Test effort estimation
Exercise: Evaluating the test effort estimation in your company
Exercise: Evaluating test monitoring and progress control documents
Example: Test based metrics
Bug management
§ Bug management
§ Bug classification according to IEEE Std. 1044
§ Bug metrics

Test Management ISTQB Advanced (v1.0) 2 Copyright © 1999-2006, Rex Black, All Rights Reserved
 Course Outline

Day Three
Testing and risk management
§ Risk classification (assessment)
§ Avoiding risks
§ Risk based testing

The test team

§ Staff profiles - professional qualification (hard skills)
§ Soft skills

Exercise: Solving a testing task in a team

Day Four
Organizational forms of software tests
Exercise: Analyzing the test team in your company
Example: How a test team can be organized
Testing and process improvement
§ Process maturity models
§ Process improvement in testing

Exercise: Analyzing your company’s current test process

The role of the tester
§ Situation in testing
§ Communication

Exercise: Communicating in the test team

Exercise: Information transfer in a test team
Glossary, bibliography, and resources

Recommended Readings And Preparation

The class materials include an extensive bibliography of books related to software
testing, project management, quality, and other topics of interest to the test professional.
We recommend that the attendee has completed an ISTQB Foundation-level
certification course or the equivalent prior to taking this course.

Test Management ISTQB Advanced (v1.0) 3 Copyright © 1999-2006, Rex Black, All Rights Reserved