Software Quality Assurance part2

Quality
Quality software is reasonably bug-free, delivered on time and within budget, meets requirements and/or expectations, and is maintainable. However, quality is obviously a subjective term. It will depend on who the 'customer' is and their overall influence in the scheme of things. A wide-angle view of the 'customers' of a software development project might include end-users, customer acceptance testers, customer contract officers, customer management, the development organization's management/accountants/testers/salespeople, future software maintenance engineers, stockholders, magazine columnists, etc

A Software Quality Assurance Engineer is involved in the entire software development process to ensure the quality of the final product. This can include processes such as requirements gathering and documentation, source code control, code review, change management, configuration management, release management and the actual testing of the software. Software QA is often confused with Software Testing but should not be. Testing is a big part of Software Quality Assurance, but it is not, by any means, the only part of it.


Becoming a Software Quality Assurance Engineer
Software QA Engineers must be familiar with the entire SDLC in order to be effective. They may start out as Software Engineers or as Testing Engineers. They should have strong communication skills, be good at documenting their work, and must be able to work well with different groups. They often become the middle person between the Developers and the Customers, so they need to be able to understand, and convey, both viewpoints


Software Quality Assurance Engineer Career Path
A Software Quality Assurance Engineer usually starts out as either a Developer or a Testing Engineer. As they become more proficient as Software QA Engineers, they may more on to more complicated projects with more complex code. They make take on more responsibility for the process, being promoted to Senior Software Quality Engineers and eventually on to a Software QA Manager role.


Quality Assurance and Software Testing Certification
When we think of IT (Information Technology) we tend to focus on development, network and database issues. It's easy to forget that before sending work out to the user there is a crucial middleman. That person or team is Quality Assurance.
QA comes in many forms, from the developer who tests her own code, to the testing gurus who work with automated testing tools. Many vendors and groups have recognized testing as an integral part of the development and maintenance process and have developed certifications to standardize and demonstrate knowledge of the QA process and testing tools.
Vendors who offer Testing Certifications:
· Mercury
· Segue
· Rational
· Empirix

Vendor-Neutral Testing Certifications:
Certified Software Quality Analyst (CSQA)
Certified Software Test Engineer (CSTE)
ISTQB Certified Tester, Foundation Level (CTFL)
Quality improment associte certification(CQIA)
Certified Test Manager (CTM)
Certified Software Test Professional (CSTP)
Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (SSBB).

Although this list is short, the links above go to sites that offer more niche certifications for you to research. Those listed here are respected in IT and are a must-have for anyone considering an entry into the world of testing and Quality Assurance. For additional information and links regarding testing certifications, visit the Testing Certifications Subject on this site.


Software Test Engineer
A Software Test Engineer is involved in the testing of software and is generally a member of the software quality assurance team. Software QA Engineers may test software, but are not always expert Test Engineers.

There are two main types of testing, which are white box testing and black box testing. The differences between the two are based on the assumptions and the view points taken by the testers while performing the tests. White box testing assumes an internal view of the software and black box testing basically assumes an external view of the software.
Testing is done at different phases of the software development life cycle (SDLC) and includes unit testing, integration testing, functional testing, system testing, acceptance testing (often performed by the internal or external client) and regression testing (which is often automated).


Education – Software Test Engineers
Software Testers do not always have Computer Science degree. There are several notable certifications for Software Testing. The top ones are:

Ø American Society for Quality
Ø Quality Assurance International
Ø International Institute for software testing
·
Software Test Engineer Career Path
There are different level of Test Engineers. At an entry level, a testing engineer may set up and document simple test cases. As they become more experienced, Software Test Engineers may set up very complex test case scenarios, write test scripts and perform white box
Ø Companies Hiring Software Test Engineers:
Ø Microsoft Corporation
Ø Sun Microsystems
Ø Cisco Systems
Ø Oracle Corporation
Ø Apple Computers
Ø Google
Beta Software
Definition: beta software: Development copies that are released prior to the full version. They are released to aid debugging of the software and to obtain real world reports of its operation. An expiry date is often built into the software. See alpha software


Beta Test
Definition: When software is nearly completed, the software developers often put out a beta release for testing by the general public. This is to find any small, overlooked problems before marketing the software in stores or online.
During the beta test, people agree to try out the software on their own computers to offer suggestions on improving the software. Some beta tests are open to anyone who wishes to try out the software, but many beta tests are offered to select individuals.
Pronunciation: bay-tah test


Project Manager Overview


PMP - Project Management Professional
A Project Manager is responsible for managing the resources of large projects. For Tech Careers, can mean managing large Software Development projects, Networking projects, IT installations or conversions, or any other function where business and technology needs have to be managed and resources have to be coordinated.
The Project Manager is responsible for making sure a project is completed within a certain set of restraints. These restraints usually involve time, money, people and materials. The project must then be completed to a certain level of quality.
Project Managers usually use Project Management Software to help keep track of resources and project deliverables (or outputs). This software helps document the project objectives, status, time lines and expected outcomes. Current popular project management software products include:
· Microsoft project
· 24seven office
· Omniplan
· At task


Education
Project Managers usually have a degree and several years of experience in their field of expertise. Ideally, a Project Manager will have additional Project Management Training, such as a certification through the Project Management Institute.


Becoming a Project Manager
In Technology Careers, a Project Manager is often promoted from the individual contributor ranks. Most technical companies prefer to hire Project Managers that have worked in a similar technical environment and can appreciate the complexities that are usually involved.
Becoming a project manager can be a good way to take on management responsibilities while staying current in development. Taking classes or becoming certified in project management is a good way to branch into this field.

Project Manager Career Path
There are various levels of Project Management, and differences between the size and scope of projects to manage. A Project Manager may be promoted to larger projects. A good project manager will often, given enough experience, be eligible for promotion to a senior role, such as a Group Manager or a Group Director.
Companies Hiring Technical Project Managers:
· Microsoft Corporation
· Sun Microsystems
· Cisco Systems
· Oracle Corporation
· Apple Computers
· Google
· Intuit
· Adobe
· Amazon.com
· eBay
· Qualcomm
Project Managers are in high demand, especially those with a technical background. Check out the best places to work listings for other great companies to research.


PMP Certification From PMI:
PMI’s PMP credential is designed to demonstrate a strong level of project management leadership skills. In order to be eligible for a PMP credential from PMI, you must meet certain guidelines. These guidelines are designed to measure experience, education and professional knowledge. There is also a four hour exam that you must pass, which is designed to assesses project management skills and knowledge.
In order to be eligible for a PMP certification, you must meet the following guidelines as laid out by the Project Management Institute:

You must have 35 hours of specific project management education.
· If you have a Bachelor’s Degree (or the global equivalent), you must also have a minimum three years’ professional project management experience, during which 4,500 hours are spent leading and directing project tasks, up to eight years from the time of application.

· If you do not have a Bachelor’s Degree (or the global equivalent), you must have a minimum five years’ professional project management experience, during which at least 7,500 hours are spent leading and directing project tasks, up to eight years from the time of application.


PMP - Other Information
Project Manager ProfileCAPM CertificationTech Industry Publications
Description: The American Academy of Project Managers offers three levels of project management certification: PME ™ Project Manager E-Business, CIPM ™ Certified International Project Manager and MPM ™ Master Project Manager. Each of these is targeted towards managers and executives and require graduate degrees and a high level of experience.
Requirements: All three certifications, the PME, CIPM, and MPM require at least three years of verifiable project management experience. In lieu of PM experience, there are several training programs and seminars that are approved by the AAPM to obtain certification.
by Mr P.Rajamohan