Risk Based Testing and Metrics - 1 Introduction

1      Introduction

The risk based approach to testing is explained in six sections:

1.     Risk Analysis Fundamentals: Chapter 2 contains a brief introduction to risk analysis in general with particular focus on using risk analysis to improve the software test process.

2.     Metrics: Chapter 3 gives a basic introduction to the metrics recorded as part of the case study contained in this document.

3.     The Case: Chapter 4 is the first chapter of the case study. It explains the background of how the methodology was implemented in one particular project

4.     The Challenge: Chapters 5 and 6 further summarise what had to be done in the case project, why it should be done and how it should be done.

5.     The Risk Analysis: Chapter 7 explains how the probability and cost of a fault was identified.  Further, it discuss how the risk exposure of a given function was calculated to identify the most important functions and used as an input into the test process.

6.     The Process and Organisation: Chapter 8 goes through the test process and discusses improvements made to the organisation and processes to support the risk based approach to testing in the case project.

 

In addition, chapter 9 briefly discusses the importance of automated testing as part of a risk based approach. Some areas for further research and of general interest are listed in chapter 10.