Developing a Conceptual Framework using Exploratory Testing to Improve Software Quality in SME's

  • Authors

    • Murugan Thangiah
    • Shuib Basri
    • Dhanapal Durai Dominic
    2018-09-12
    https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.1.19490
  • Agile Development Process, Exploratory Testing, Requirement Analysis, SPI, SMEs
  • In order to create quality software with standards and agreeing principles, the Small and Medium Software Enterprises (SME’s) faces many challenges and issues due to variety of reasons. Starting from the requirement analysis phase, the challenges emerge and continue until the project nears its completion, before being released to the customers or stakeholders. Various issues surfaced during the SDLC phases are identified and analyzed in the study. A Conceptual Framework using Exploratory Testing has been developed based on the study and the quantitative analyses were conducted using survey questionnaire. In this research paper the data analysis of the quantitative survey is conducted using Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling.  The reliability and validity of the data is evaluated and presented in this paper which is essential to develop the conceptual framework. Further analysis of the survey questionnaire will be carried on and it will be reported in future work.

     

  • References

    1. [1] Van der Broek, R., Bonsangue, M.M., Chaudron, M., Van Merode, H., "Integrating testing into Agile software development processes",2nd International Conference on Model-Driven Engineering and Software Development (MODELSWARD),pp.561 - 574, 2014.

      [2] Iacob, I.M., & Constantinescu, R., “Testing: First Step towards Software Qualityâ€, Journal of Applied Quantitative methods, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2008.

      [3] Montequin, V.R., Cousillas, S., Ortega, F., & Villanueva, J., Analysis of the success factors and failure causes in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) projects in Spain. International Conference on Project Management, pp. 992-999. 2014.

      [4] Meier, S. R., Technology Portfolio Management for Project Managers. 2017. Available at [https://www. pmiwdc.org/sites/default files/presentations/201703/PMIW_LocalCommunity_Tysons_presentation_2017-02.pdf].

      [5] Arunkumar, S., & Arun Kumar, T., “Study the Impact of Requirements Management Characteristics in Global Software Development Projects: An Ontology based Approachâ€, International Journal of Software Engineering and Applications, vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 107-125, 2011.

      [6] O’Sheedy, D., “Agile Project Management for IT Projects in SMEs: A Framework and Success Factorsâ€, The International Technology Management Review, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp.187-195, 2013.

      [7] Basri .S, & O Connor, R., “Evaluation on Knowledge Management Process in Very Small Software Companies: A surveyâ€, 2012..

      [8] Mishra D. and Mishra A. “Software Process Improvement in SMEs: A Comparative Viewâ€. Computer Science and Information Systems, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp.111-140. 2009.

      [9] Dybå, T., & Dingsøyr, T. Empirical studies of agile software development: A systematic review. Information and software technology, 50(9-10), 833-859. 2008.

      [10] Asghar, S., & Umar, M., “Requirement engineering challenges in development of software applications and selection of customeroff-the-shelf (COTS) componentsâ€. International Journal of Software Engineering, 1(1), 32-50. 2010.

      [11] Hussain, A., Mkpojiogu, & E., Kamal, F., The Role of Requirements in the Success or Failure of Software Projects. EJ Econjournals. 6. 6-7, 2016.

      [12] Ramesh, B & Cao, L & Baskerville, R., Agile requirements engineering practices and challenges: An empirical study. Inf. Syst. J.. 20. 449-480. 2010.

      [13] Mirna, M., Jezreel, M., Calvo-Manzano, A.J., Gonzalo, C., & Tomas,S.F., “Expected requirements in support tools for software process improvement in SME’sâ€, 9th Electronics, Robotics, and Automative Mechanics Conference, 2012.

      [14] Basri, S. & O'Connor, R., “Understanding the Perception of Very Small Software Companies towards the Adoption of Process Standards , in Riel et al (Eds), Systems, Software and Services Process Improvement, CCIS Vol. 99, Springer-Verlag, pp. 153-164, 2010.

      [15] Kalpana, A.M., & Ebenezer E.J., “Software Process Improvization Framework nased on Fuzzy Logic approach for optimizing Indian Small Scale Software Organizationsâ€, International Journal of Multimedia and Ubiquitous Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 1, 2011.

      [16] Pino, F.J., Garcia,F., & Piattini,M., “Software Process Improvement in small and medium software enterprises: a systematic reviewâ€, Software Quality Journal, pp.237-261, 2008.

      [17] Cripin, L., & Gregory, J., “Agile Testing – A practical guide for testers and agile teamâ€, Addison and Wesley, 2009.

      [18] Van Zyl, J., “Software Testing in a Small company: A Case Studyâ€, Technical Report, Univesitiy of Pretoria, 2010.

      [19] Beer, A & Ramler, R., “The role of experience in software testing practice,†in SEAA ’08: Proceedings of the 2008 34th Euro micro Conference Software Engineering and Advanced Applications Washington, DC, USA: IEEE Computer Society, pp. 258–265, 2008.

      [20] McDaniel, M.A., Schmidt, F.L., & Hunter, J.E., “Experience correlates of job performance,†Journal of Applied Psychology, vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 327–330, 1988.

      [21] Armour, P.G., “The unconscious art of software testing,†Communications of the ACM, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 15–18, 2005.

      [22] Bach, J., Exploratory testing Explained, E. v. Veenendaal, Ed. The Testing Practitioner. UTN Publishers, 2002, www.satisfie.com.

      [23] Moritz, E., “ Case Study: how Analysis of Customer Found Defects can be Used by System Test to Improve Qualityâ€, ICSE, pp.123-129, 2009.

      [24] Kanij, T., Merkel,R., &Grundy, J., “A Preliminary Survey of Factors Affecting Software Testersâ€, 23rd Australian Software Engineering Conference, 2014.

      [25] Hellmann, T. D., Sharma, A., Ferreira, J., & Maurer, F., Agile Testing: Past, Present, and Future--Charting a Systematic Map of Testing in Agile Software Development. In Agile Conference (AGILE), 2012 (pp. 55-63). IEEE.

      [26] Higgins, T., “Poor Requirements – What is the cause?â€, http://www.blueprint.com/poor_requirements_what_is_the_cause/; 2012. [Accessed on 7th October, 2017].

      [27] Hendrickson, E., Exploratory Testing in an Agile context, Quality Tree Software Inc, 2011.

      [28] Ghahrai, A., (2015); Why Exploratory Testing is Important in Agile Projects. Available at[https://www.testingexcellence.com/ exploratory-testing-important-agile-projects/], Accessed on 25th April, 2018.

      [29] Itkonen J, M. V. Mäntylä and C. Lassenius. "How Do Testers Do It? An Exploratory Study on Manual Testing Practices", International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement. 2009.

      [30] Cronbach, L.J., “Coefficient Alpha and the Internal Consistency of Tests,†Psychometrica, vol. 16, pp. 297-334, 1951.

      [31] Nunnally, J.C., & Bernste, I.A., Psychometric Theory, third ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 1994.

  • Downloads

  • How to Cite

    Thangiah, M., Basri, S., & Durai Dominic, D. (2018). Developing a Conceptual Framework using Exploratory Testing to Improve Software Quality in SME’s. International Journal of Engineering & Technology, 7(4.1), 42-46. https://doi.org/10.14419/ijet.v7i4.1.19490