At What Stage is Testing Beneficial?

Kidra Shadroo

Wednesday, September 1, 2004

Networking @ 5:45; Bootcamp @ 6:15; Business @ 6:45; Program @ 7:00 PM

at Countrywide, 2900 Madera, Simi Valley, CA 93065

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has estimated the cost of an inadequate infrastructure for software testing to range from $22.2 to $59.5 billion per year. Despite of this fact, proving the benefits and costs of quality is a challenge for every Quality Control (QC) manager. Why? Because sometimes even experienced managers think quality should be free or it is too costly and it is not worthwhile.

Starting verification/inspection process in earlier software development stages is almost always controversial for many issues such as cost, time, effort and necessity. Usually those who resist implementing such process get blamed for inability of seeing the facts, lack of technical knowledge and increasing risk of failure, but is it really necessary for every single project to have such a process? This is the question that quality people should answer and if the benefits of quality are not proven by numbers, senior managers won't buy it.

The Model

A model is designed based on the industry findings which enables the managers to estimate the benefit part of their Cost Benefit Analysis on QC activities. In that sense they will be able to support their decision on using verification/inspection processes by numbers rather than blindly following the past.

By comparing two types of QC involvement in software development projects, the model finds the minimum and maximum of cost saving. Project and QC managers can come up with the numbers to support go/no go decision by using this model. The model is designed so flexible so it can be fit in different software development environment and you can even consider your judgment as a subject matter expert.

Kidra Shadroo has been in IT industry since 1995 as software quality assurance, software tester engineer and project manager. He has been working with Countrywide as software quality assurance since last year. Kidra holds a masters degree in Engineering Management from University of Southern California (USC). He is also a SCQAA board member.