risks and testing

8/7/2019 Risks and Testing

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By Saman Gunawardena


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Agenda

y What is a Risk

y Types of Risks

y Risk based Testing

y Risk Management


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What is a Risk Risk is commonly defined as a measure of the probability and severity of adverse effects Software Risk is a predictable potential problem that may affect schedule, cost, quality and

performance of the project in future

Risks are used to decide where to start testing and where to test more Risk is a problem that can be predictable in advance, Where as an issue is something that we actually

face at the time of execution


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Types of Risks

Risks are classified into two types Project Risks and Product Risks

Project Risks :

Project Risks are the risks that surround the capability to deliver its

objectives, such as

y Supplier issues:

o Failure of a third party

Ex: Automation tool provider closes

the business

o Contractual issues

Ex: Could not continue using test

automation tool due to contract issues


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Types of Risks Project Risks Contd

y Organizational factors:

o Skill and staff shortages

- Higher attrition in testing teams vis--vis other teams

- Constant skill upgrade of testers in organization

o Personal and training issues

- Insufficient trainings to the team

- Personal issues of team members

o Political issues- Problems with testers communicating their needs and test

results

- Failure to follow up on information found in testing andreviews

Ex: Not improving development and testing practices


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Types of Risks Project Risks Contd

y Technical issues:

o Problems in defining right requirements

- Unclear requirements

Ex: Not all special characters are allowed in user creation

- The extent that requirements can be met given existingconstraints

Ex: Object should be created with all special characters where

as the existing constraint is & is not allowed- The quality of design, code and tests


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Product Risks

y Potential failure areas in the software or system are known asproduct risks

y Product Risks are a risk to the quality of product

Product risks include

y Error-prone software is delivered

y The potential that the software/hardware could cause harm to an

individual or companyy Poor software characteristics

Ex: Functionality, security, reliability, usability and performance

y Software that does not perform its intended functions


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Risk-based testing

y Risk based testing is

y Making a prioritized list of risks

y Perform testing that explores each risk.

y As risks evaporate and new ones emerge, adjust your test effort to stay focused on

the current crop.

y It involves the identification of the product risks and their use in guiding the TestPlanning, Specification, preparation and execution of tests.

y The risks identified in Risk-based approach may be used to

y Determine the test techniques to be employedy Determine the extent of testing to be carried out

y Prioritize testing in an attempt t find the critical defects as early as possible

y Determine whether any non-testing activities could be employed to reduce risk


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Risk Management

y Risk Management is the process of measuring, or

assessing risk and developing strategies to manage it

y

Risk management entails:

y Risk Identification

y Identify the possible risks that may hit a project

y Common ways to identify risks include Use of checklists, use oforganizational history and metrics and informal networking across theindustry

y Quantify the Risks

y Express the risk in numerical terms

y Two components used in the quantification of risk are Probability of therisk happening and impact of the risk in monitory terms


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Risk Management Contd

y Risk Mitigation

y Identify strategies to combat a risk event or avoid a risk

y This activity is based on information gained from riskidentification, and assessing risks

y Responding to risks

y When the above three steps are carried out systematically and

in timely manner, risks can be responded in a better way.


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Any questions?


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