Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 12
Quality and Testing
It is quality rather than quantity that matters.
—Seneca, Epistles
The Definition of Quality
What is quality? How does one define quality? A layman might think that
quality is about achieving one's best, going beyond what is expected.
However, the accepted definition of quality concerns
meeting specifica-
tions
. Quality is the best that one can achieve as per specifications. From
a business point of view, delivering beyond the specifications is a waste
of resources. Such a definition, grounded on meeting specifications, has
the advantage that it removes subjective definitions of quality. It enables
implementation of practical processes to measure, verify, and ensure that
the specifications are being met.
Is the idea that one must work only to specifications not restricting
the development of good ideas as the process goes along? A developer
can come up with a brilliant idea for a new feature — and so can a tester.
The question now arises as to whether such ideas should be considered.
The argument is not against using the idea, but rather about following
the process: if one wants the brilliant idea to be included, one should
change the specifications to include it. Once the specifications are final-
ized, the rest of the system — that is, the developers, tester, trainers, etc.
— should be working to the specifications; otherwise, chaos can ensue.
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