Both test process components and test-ware are recognised as assets and re-used across the organisation when creating another test asset.
Introduction
This Specific Goal is concerned with ensuring that both test process components and test-ware are recognised as assets and, where possible, re-used across the organisation when creating another test asset.
Specific Practices
SP 4.1 Identify re-usable test assets
Examples of activities where test assets for re-use can be identified include the following:
- Project retrospectives / lessons learned sessions
- Test evaluation report
- Test process assessments (areas of strength often indicate test process components and / or test-ware of high quality that are candidates for re-use
- test process improvement efforts
SP 4.2 Select test assets to be added to the re-use library
Examples of re-use criteria for test assets include:
- The test asset should be defined and documented according to the organisational standards
- The test asset should be easy to understand and implement
- The test asset, especially test process components, should have associated measurements
- The test asset should have been carefully reviewed and successfully applied to ensure that it has been adequately tested
- Test process-related risk should be evaluated and documented
- The test asset, especially test process components, should have a well-defined interface to other related processes
- The test asset should be flexible and modifiable so it can be applied to different projects
SP 4.3 Deploy re-usable test assets
Work will typically need to be performed to make the test asset suitable for inclusion in the test process asset library. Each test asset meeting the re-use criteria should be represented by a template containing information allowing the asset to be tailored for specific projects. Examples of components for a re-use template include:
- Test asset name
- General information
- Customer description
- Interface description
- Procedure description
- Context description
- Measurement description
SP 4.4 Apply re-usable test assets in projects
Deployment notes
- Are re-usable test assets disseminated within projects and across the organisation?
- Are project staff trained in the use of the re-usable assets when they are introduces to a new project?
- Is it determined whether the re-use of the test asset is efficient and effective using the measurements taken during process execution?
- If there are issues, are they analysed and appropriate changes made to the test asset definition?