Foundation Level 6

Question 1

Tool Support for Testing

Answer 1

1. Management tools – increase the test process efficiency by facilitating management of the SDLC, requirements, tests, defects, configuration
2. Static testing tools
3. Test design and implementation tools
4. Test execution and coverage tools
5. Non-functional testing tools
6. DevOps tools
7. Collaboration tools
8. Tools supporting scalability and deployment standardization

Question 2

Potential benefits of using test automation

Answer 2

1. Time saved by reducing repetitive manual work
2. Prevention of simple human errors through greater consistency and repeatability (test data)
3. More objective assessment (e.g., coverage) and providing measures that are too complicated for humans to derive
4. Easier access to information about testing to support test management and test reporting
5. Reduced test execution times to provide earlier defect detection, faster feedback and faster time to market
6. More time for testers to design new, deeper and more effective tests

Question 3

Potential risks of using test automation

Answer 3

1. Unrealistic expectations about the benefits of a tool
2. Inaccurate estimations of time, costs, effort required to introduce a tool, maintain test scripts and change the existing manual test process.
3. Using a test tool when manual testing is more appropriate.
4. Relying on a tool too much, e.g., ignoring the need of human critical thinking.
5. The dependency on the tool vendor which may go out of business, retire the tool, sell the tool to a different vendor or provide poor support
6. Using an open-source software which may be abandoned, meaning that no further updates are available, or its internal components may require quite frequent updates as a further development.
7. The automation tool is not compatible with the development platform.
8. Choosing an unsuitable tool that did not comply with the regulatory requirements and/or safety
   standards.