"Rex Black has done it again!...Critical Testing Processes is a book that all software testers will want to read from cover to cover and then retain for frequent reference."

In today's rapid-development environment, software testing processes play an increasingly crucial role. Where agile methodologies address a company's need to get the product out fast, testing processes address the equally important need to get the product right.

In this new book, Rex Black examines the big picture and distills, from his own extensive experience, twelve testing processes that are critical to success. After each process is introduced, a delightfully written case study demonstrates its use in various organizational, operational, and technological contexts. Instead of cumbersome regulations, this book provides checklists—lightweight, flexible tools for implementing process-oriented testing, gathering metrics, and making incremental process changes. Specifically, he shows test professionals how to:

Because testing is a collaborative process, requiring the participation of staff throughout the organization, the author discusses interpersonal and cultural issues in depth. He also covers often-overlooked areas in planning and perfecting tests. Whatever your role in testing—from test engineering to managing hundreds of test engineers—Critical Testing Processes will offer valuable insights into what you do, why it's important, and how you can perform better.

Rex Black is president and principal consultant of Rex Black Consulting Services, Inc., a testing and quality-assurance firm serving clients such as Bank One, Cisco, Dell, and the U.S. Department of Defense. He is the author of Managing the Test Process, which is now in its second edition (John Wiley & Sons, 2002).