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Managing the Testing Process: Practical Tools and Techniques for Managing Hardware and Software Testing | 
 enlarge | Author: Rex Black
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Category: Book
List Price: £23.99
Buy New: £14.41
You Save: £9.58 (40%)
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 101087
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd Edition
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 528
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 7.3 x 1.2
ISBN: 0471223980
Dewey Decimal Number: 005.14
UPC: 723812223985
EAN: 9780471223986
ASIN: 0471223980
Publication Date: August 23, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 IMO Hetzel is better June 9, 2008
Having often to advise clients on testing high-integrity systems, I have a list of books that I tend to recommend to them. I bought this text by Black to see whether I should add it to the list. I decided that I probably wouldn't - and certainly wouldn't for British clients.
Some American authors clearly have no idea of the degree to which their style can sound crassly uneducated to British readers. Most of the time one can read through it but I found Black's style the most irritating I've encountered in many years. IMO his description of what is good and poor style in bug reports applies ironically to his own writing! Setting aesthetic sensibilities aside, however, I wasn't much impressed by the overall approach either.
While it is reasonable for a book on software testing managment to adopt a pragmatic experienced-based approach, it is IMO a disservice to readers not to indicate where and how practical approaches are supported by the underlying theory of coverage-based testing. Black, however, omits this entirely. In particular he gives no real guidance on how to select appropriate coverage domains according to the criticality of the tested system. A further consequence is that the book fails to relate what it recommends to the provisions of the increasing number of international standards for software processes - particularly those intended for high-integrity systems development.
One thing I thought particularly bad was Black's view of the people-management side of testing. At one point he suggests that test reports should not "make individuals look bad". Having worked on SIL4 developments with engineers who clearly hadn't a clue, I beg to differ. IMO product safety assurance trumps any number of bruised tester egos. I'd sooner offend the great unwashed than have a highly safety-critical product go out of the door after inadequate testing.
On the positive side, there are many nuggets of wisdom to be found if you're prepared to wade through the verbiage. I think the book is sound enough for run-of-the-mill testing of non-critical systems. I wouldn't, however, use Black's approach to software test management on SIL3 or SIL4 systems. IMO Hetzel's approach is better if only because it contains less that you might judiciously choose to ignore.
In summary, a pretty disappointing book.
 Excellent advise. September 20, 1999
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
As a test manager working on my fourth testing project I can honestly say that I wish I'd read this book before my first one. I was thrown in at the deep end when the test manager was sacked and I had to step in. This book confirms that most of the things we did were right and also highlights the things that can go wrong, particularly in the 'soft' issues. It's especially good on the managerial aspects and politics of testing and I recognise quite a few of the political mistakes that test managers can make. As a review of testing techniques its not so hot but the title 'Managing the Testing Process' says it all. Its about managing and it does it very well.
Good, but not great July 20, 1999
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
As an aspiring tester, I can say that this book is not quite what I was looking for. It didn't give me a big picture of the testing process, nor did it give me any insight into how to use effective methods. On the whole, the better book for your money is "Testing Computer Software" by Kaner, et al. Now that one is a winner. This, just so so.
 Great Book!!! July 16, 1999
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
In theory, practice works 100% of the time. In practice, theory do not always works . This book has the "proven testing theory and testing practice"I do recommend it highly!
Simply Great! July 15, 1999
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Very clear writing, a great voice offering light and granular guidance, and the CD is helpful to those who might need a "jump-start" to managing their own testing strategy and process.Why not 5 stars: I wished the CD had been more robust, and that a website/extranet for the book could be included in the purchase price.
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