We see well-meaning people adopt an attitude “if it needs done, then I will do it” even if their job or position in the company does not define them as the person to solve the problem. I call this absorption and it is part of the much ballyhooed “can-do attitude” upon which many companies thrive.  […]

            We strongly recommend automated testing whenever this approach is feasible. The test team can use a language designed for this kind of testing; for example, the National Instruments product Labview. The software should be able to read in the documented test cases, execute the test cases against the product, and finish by producing a […]

            We know that a very simple product or system can generate a vast number of potential test cases. With more complex systems, this number becomes astronomical. This is the result of a factorial calculation! One technique we use to get around this problem originates with designed experiments. Many designed experiments are based on orthogonal […]

We do not need to suffer the pains of the risk due to spot checking.  We have a number of alternatives. For example: Modeling and simulation Iterative testing throughout the development Launch AND continue test and verification Launch and continue test and verification reduce volume of customers Relying upon modeling and other forms of simulation […]

We have briefly discussed why verification is important to the product quality. Verification does not just address the product quality. Our project work requires verification as well. When we take on a project, we should have the scope articulated in a way that we can confirm that the project did indeed fulfill the objective.  As […]

In some recent discussions with product development neophytes, we have heard a merging of the concepts of verification and validation.  Let us set the record straight.  Verification and Validation are not synonymous.  The World English Dictionary defines verification as “establishment of the correctness of a theory, fact, etc…”   and validation as “to confirm or corroborate”.  […]

By: Rick Edwards A good carpenter never blames his tools. There is also an aphorism “it is the poor musician who blames his instrument”.  Why do so many good project managers blame their scheduling tool when their project schedule doesn’t fit their desired schedule? Project managers often struggle with documenting task dependencies utilizing the technology […]

I know this is way off topic; however I thought we should post this. Below is a letter my brother and I sent to the Veterans Administration. Our father was in the Special Forces and served multiple tours in Vietnam.  The US has been in wars for decades now, and we do not know the […]

We have recently had a discussion on what it takes to quality assure software. The discussion focused on FMEA and the role it plays in quality assurance.  The discussion began to sound as if the FMEA was the panacea for poor quality. There is no silver bullet. To be sure the FMEA (which is essentially […]

We have our requirements, our iterative packages and content defined, and now the developers are producing the iterations. During this time, the verification and test folks have been creating the test cases or details on how we intend to confirm the product performance. Our requirements provide the fodder for our testing.  For each requirement there […]