Advanced Tester Certification – Test Manager

Description

Overview:

• Integrate testing into your software development process
• Establish a realistic test approach and strategy
• Understand the Test Manager’s role in reviews
• Plan, estimate, and schedule the testing effort
• Dynamically monitor, manage, and report testing activities
• Understand the Test Manager’s role in defect management
• Plan and implement test automation
• Measure test effectiveness and project progress
• Evaluate and improve your test process
• Develop new skills to lead your test team

The ISTQB® Advanced Tester Certification—Test Manager training course expands on the test techniques and methods introduced in the ISTQB Foundation certification course and addresses those areas of the ISTQB advanced syllabus specifically related to the Advanced Test Management certification.

The course focuses on the key areas that are vital for successful test management: the foundations of software testing, test management, standards and test improvement processes, and people skills.

Specific topics covered include testing as part of the software development lifecycle, metrics, test documentation, risk analysis, estimation, test management issues, test automation, process improvement models, individual skills for testers and managers, team dynamics, leadership, and motivation.

This course is filled with hands-on exercises to help you practice the methods and techniques taught in the course. This course covers the syllabus for the Advanced Test Management certification and will help you prepare for the exam.

Prerequisites:

Certified Tester—Foundation

Audience:

• Individuals who have taken the ISTQB Certified Tester—Foundation Level training and wish to expand their knowledge and skills into more advanced areas
• Individuals who have received the ISTQB Foundation Level certification, have met the criteria for taking the advanced certification exams, and wish to prepare for those exams. For more information regarding the criteria for taking the advanced examinations, go to www.ASTQB.org.
• Anyone wishing to learn more about advanced testing topics

Pre-Qualification for the Advanced Certification Exam:

In order to be eligible to take any of the Certified Tester—Advanced Level (CTAL) exams, potential examinees must:

• Submit proof of Certified Tester—Foundation Level (CTFL) certification
• Establish an account in the ASTQB WebAssessor
• While ASTQB no longer requires students to document a minimum of 3 years’ experience, it is still strongly recommended that students have relevant experience and an understanding of the Advanced level learning objectives.

CTAL exams are not given at the end of class. After pre-qualification is completed, students receive an ASTQB exam voucher good for one year to use at an exam center of their choice. To learn more about Advanced Tester Certification, or to schedule a personal certification planning consultation with one of our Training Advocates, contact our Client Support team.

Exam Retakes
The ASTQB (American Software Testing Qualifications Board) is currently offering free retakes of an ISTQB Advanced Level exam for professionals who meet certain criteria. To learn more about this offer, visit ASTQB.org.

Outline:

1.1 Fundamental Test Process
1.2.1 Test Planning
Activity timing
1.2.2 Test Monitoring and Control
1.3 Test Analysis
Advantages of Detailed Test Conditions
Disadvantages of Detailed Test Conditions
When Are Detailed Test Conditions Effective?
1.3 Test Analysis Exercise
1.4 Test Design
Mapping test cases to requirements
Inventory tracking matrix
1.4 Test Design Exercise
1.5 Test Implementation
Sequence of Test Execution
Disadvantages of Early Test Implementation
Advantages of Early Test Implementation
1.5 Test Implementation Exercise
1.6 Test Execution
1.6 Test Execution Exercise
1.7 Evaluating Exit Criteria and Reporting
1.8 Test Closure Activities
Test Completion
Test Artifact Handover
Lessons Learned
1.8 Test Closure Activities Exercise
2.2 Test Management in Context
Understanding Stakeholders
Who Are the Stakeholders?
Other SDLC Activities and Products
Alignment of Test Activities
Sequential Models
Additional Test Levels
Elements of a Test Level
Levels of Testing Within the Lifecycle
Managing Non-Functional Testing
Integrating Non-Functional Tests into SDLC
Benefits and Challenges of Experience-Based Testing
Managing Experience-Based Testing
2.2 Stakeholder Exercise
2.3 Risk-Based Testing
Quality Risks
Risk Identification
Categorization of Risk
Light-weight Risk-Based Testing Techniques
Heavy-weight Risk-Based Testing Techniques
Measuring Success of Risk-Based Testing
Techniques for Test Selection
2.3 Risk-Based Testing Exercise
2.4 Test Documentation
Test Documentation
Test policy
Test strategy
Master test plan
Level test plan
Test Policy
Project Risk Management
Examples of Project Risk Mitigation
Managing Project Risk
2.4 Test Documentation Exercise
2.5 Test Estimation
Factors that influence test estimation
How good is our industry (at estimating)?
2.5 Test Estimation Exercise
2.6 Defining and Using Test Metrics
What makes a good measure?
Metrics for test closure
Using metrics
Using metrics for test control
A sample tester’s dashboard
Exercise – Metrics
2.6 Defining and Using Test Metrics Exercise
2.7 Business Value of Testing
Quantitative value of testing
Economics of test and failure
Qualitative value of testing
Cost of (poor) quality
2.7 Business Value of Testing Exercise
2.8 Distributed, Outsourced, and Insourced Testing
2.9 Managing the Application of Industry Standards
Sources of standards
International standards
2.9 Managing the Application of Industry Standards (continued)
Sample ISO standards
IEEE
Example of national standard
Domain-Specific standards
CMMI – Capability Maturity Model Integration
PMI, PRINCE2 and ITIL
Considerations when using standards
2.9 Managing the Application of Industry Standards Example 1
3.2 Management Reviews and Audits
Key Characteristics
Audits
Key Characteristics of Audits
3.3 Managing Reviews
Formulating a Review Strategy
Addressing Reviews During Test Planning
Measuring the Effectiveness of Reviews
3.3 Managing Reviews Exercise
3.4 Metrics for Reviews
Metrics for Product Evaluation
Metrics for Process Evaluation
3.4 Metrics for Reviews Exercise
3.5 Managing Formal Reviews
Characteristics of a Formal Reviews
Fulfillment of Prerequisites
4.2 Defect Lifecycle and SDLC
Economics of test and failure
Defect Workflow and States
Cross-Functional Defect Management
4.2 Defect Lifecycle and SDLC Exercise
4.3 Defect Report Information
Defect Data
Standards for Defect Reporting
ISO 9126
IEEE 829
IEEE 1044
Orthogonal defect classification
4.3 Defect Report Information Exercise
4.4 Assessing Process Capability
Using Defects for Process Improvement
5.2 Test Improvement Process
Why test process improvement models?
Process assessment
Process capability determination
Process improvement
Process assessment
Types of process improvement models
5.3 Improving the Test Process
Test Improvement Models
Improving the Testing Process
Change process steps: IDEAL
5.3 Improving the Test Process Exercise
5.4 Improving the Test Process with TMMi
5.5 Improving the Test Process with TPI Next
5.6 Improving the Test Process with CTP
5.7 Improving the Test Process with STEP
6.0 Test tools and automation
6.2 Tool Selection
6.3 Tool Lifecycle
6.3 Tool Metrics
7.0 People skills
7.2 Individual Skills
Individual skills – Testers
Individual Skills – User View
Individual Skills – Software Development Process
Individual Skills – Test Techniques
Individual Skills – For Test Managers
Individual Skills – Interpersonal Skills
Building the Perfect Team
Skills Assessment
7.2 Individual Skills Exercise
7.3 Test Team Dynamics
Test Team Dynamics – New Staff Members
Technical Skills-Hard Skills
Technical Skills-Soft Skills
7.4 Testing within an Organization
7.5 Motivation
Motivation and Morale
Motivation and Metrics
7.6 Communications