Devising Indigenous Model for Software Testing Practices in KPK Region of Pakistan

Abstract

To ensure the quality of software products, the software testing process has great significance in software development and is the vital step of Verification and Validation (V&V) process. Software development companies use various software testing approaches to improve the quality of their software products. To ensure effective software testing different testing approaches, techniques and methodologies supported by semi-/fully-automated testing tools are used. Various Software testing strategies planned to apply at different levels. Hence software testing has always been a concern for the software development industry all over the world. To identify the gaps in the software testing practices in the KPK region of Pakistan, this research is carried out in depth study of software testing process in the said region. From the surveys conducted in the past we replicate a questionnaire for a survey in some software companies. we analyse the current status of software testing practices in the said region. With the analyses of the replicated survey’s findings and literature reviewed, we have identified gaps in testing practices of KPK region. From the study of some well-known testing models, none was found suitable to deal with the identified issues (in our survey) adequately. Hence, to address this deficiency and based on the identified gaps from the survey, we define a testing maturity model. The maturity model is devised for the improvement of testing practices to ensure quality of software. In our proposed model, an effort is made to introduce the testing worth considering by the small/medium size organizations and suggested a way to organize and identify the testing team. Furthermore, the guidelines for the implementation of our proposed model recommends who have to manage and take on specific tasks and the team have to structure the testing procedures for the organization. The proposed model clearly defines the activities, tasks and responsibilities through which the procedures of testing can lead to the maturity levels. Once the process is fully matured and added in the development life cycle then we can recommend making further planning. To verify and validate the competency of our proposed Model, firms at random are selected from the region and the proposed model is implemented in its development life cycle. This research will act as a baseline for others in the academia and will also suggest due recommendations to improve testing practices in the region.