32571 Enterprise Software Testing
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject provides students with the practical knowledge and skills that are necessary to effectively measure and control the quality of software products. It covers software quality assurance and management principles and practice together with systems and software testing approaches.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Design specific processes, types and phases of testing to assure quality in software products (C.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Identify principles and approaches to testing and quality management to projects and business outcomes (D.1) |
| 3. | Apply a variety of testing techniques to evaluate system operations and functions (D.1) |
| 4. | Apply quality assurance and management principles in testing environment (D.1) |
| 5. | Collaboratively plan, develop, apply and document test quality systems (E.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
1.5 hour lecture and 1.5 hour tutorial per week
UTS has embraced the ‘flipped education’ model, rather than only attending lectures, students access digital resources and undertake preliminary tasks prior to coming to tutorial and lecture where they engage in collaborative, mentored activities.
Learning in this subject includes viewing videos and recommended reading (both available from the UTS Library); each lecture contains details of preparation work for the following tutorial. Tutorial participation marks depend on the completion of the FLIP learning work as well as participation in tutorial.
Content (topics)
The major topics are:
- Quality Assurance Principles
Definition of quality for software products, quality characteristics and their relationships, setting measurable and testable quality attributes, the relationship between the QA Function, Software Developers and Management. - Implementing Software Quality Assurance
SQA Plans: characteristics and documentation, quality and data standards, configuration management, quality audit, quality assurance justification, effectiveness and cost of SQA - Verification, Validation and Test
VV&T methods and techniques, VV&T tools, relation of VV&T to all phases of the software development life cycle, the processes of VV&T appropriate to each of the life cycle phases - Quality Management practice
How Quality impacts the business and its customers. The required infrastructure including testing tools, environments. The people and skills needed for good quality and the interaction of the test team and their work on other IT groups.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Static Testing & FMEA
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
Assessment task 2: Unit Test
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 3: System Test
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1 and E.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group and individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 4: Multiple choice quiz
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2 and 3 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Required texts
Black, R. 2009, Managing the Testing Process: Practical Tools and Techniques for Managing Hardware and Software Testing. Third Edition, Wiley Publishing Inc. ISBN: 978-0-470-40415-7
Morgan, P, and Hambling, B, 2019, Software Testing : An ISTQB-BCS Certified Tester Foundation Guide. Fourth Edition.References
- Perry, W. E. 2006, Effective Methods for Software Testing, Third Edition, Wiley Publishing Inc.
- Laird, L. M and Brennan, M. C. 2006, Software Measurement and Estimation: A Practical Approach (Quantitative Software Engineering Series), First Edition, John Wiley Inc.
- Godbole, N. S. 2004, Software Quality Assurance: Principles And Practice, First Edition, Alpha Science International Ltd.
- Beydeda, S. and Gruhn, V. 2005, Testing Commercial-off-the-Shelf Components and Systems, Springer-Verlag.
- Chrissis, M., Konrad. M. and Shrum, S. 2003, CMMI Guidelines for Process Integration and Product Improvement, Addison Wesley.
- Potter, N. and Sakry, M. 2002, Making Process Improvement Work, Addison Wesley
- Wieger, K. E. 2002, Peer Reviews in Software, Addison Wesley.
- Ahern, D., Clouse, A. and Turner, R. 2001, CMMI Distilled: A Practical Introduction to Integrated Process Improvement, Second Edition, Addison Wesley.