Product Description

TMap is a test method that can be summarised by four essential points: -The client manages the test process on rational and economic grounds: Business Driven Test Management (BDTM). -The comprehensive test process, from test execution through test management, includes ample tips and examples. -TMap contains a complete tool set , i.e. technique descriptions and organisational and infrastructure support. -TMap is an adaptive method that is suitable for test situations in most environments (such as new development, maintenance, waterfall / iterative / agile development, customised or package software, outsourcing). TMap offers the tester and the test manager guidelines to deliver results for the client. Through the years, TMap evolved into a de facto standard for testing information systems. It is currently implemented in hundreds of companies and institutions all over the world. The power of TMap can be largely ascribed to the many experiences from actual practice that it incorporates. This makes the book a valuable tool for current and future challenges in the field of testing.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #424018 in Books
• Published on: 2006-12-07
• Released on: 2006-12-07
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 752 pages

Review
"Pick a random spot in this book and you ll find something interesting." --Rex Black, test author and President of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB), USA

"This book will enable a test professional to better balance the test cost with the benefits provided by testing, thus making it easier to get management buy in for the test project." --Ruku Tekchandani, SW Validation Program Manager, Intel Corporation, USA

About the Author
Tim Koomen is co-author of the Test Process Improvement-model and won the European Testing Excellence Award 2003. Leo van der Aalst is a very experienced international test manager and developer of test services such as outsourcing. Bart Broekman is an expert in test design techniques and test methods. He is co-author of Testing Embedded Software and of Test Automation. Michiel Vroon is test manager specialised in international organisation affairs and an experienced trainer in testing. Rob Baarda has many years of experience as test consultant and was project leader of the book development.

Customer Reviews

Excellent, comprehensive approach to software testing
If you're looking for an easy-to-understand approach to solving software testing problems, TMap Next delivers what you need. This book documents a practical approach to software testing, built on over 20 years of practical experience working with TMap, the previous iteration of the methodology.

I found this book especially helpful for deciding how to prioritize what was important to test and what was less important, given limited time for testing and people available for testing.

The authors have combined their experience into a guide that can help both inexperienced software testing teams set up a useful testing approach, as well as experienced teams who want to understand how to structure a software testing approach that helps determine how best to spend limited time and people when time-for-testing is squeezed on a project (which is nearly 100% of the time).

I recommend this book for the approach it describes and the practical lessons included in it.

Worthless QA book
This book, on the TMAP process (for testing software) was written in Dutch and translated, directly, into English. It's very difficult to read and not worth the price. The TMAP process does not begin to compare to the RUP process. (I say that even though I have written a book on Software Quality Assurance "Best Practices" due for release later this year, 2008). This book should have been edited by an expert content editor. Had it been edited, it would have ended up being 240 pages long instead of its current 752 pages.

Here's an example of wasted, meaningless verbiage, right out of the book: "The process of the acceptance and systems tests consists of a number of different activities." Huh?!?

I believe that anything worthwhile in this book is not new but taken from the IBM SDLC processes that go all the way back to the 60s (when I worked for IBM). There's nothing new in the TMAP book, you can find all the same information, in a better readability format!, in William E. Perry's book, published in 1991, "A Standard for Testing Application Software."

The fact that Rex Black wrote a foreword to the TMAP book only reaffirms my opinion about Rex Black (egotistic, money-grubber, poor writer of 'quality' books). The fact that Mr. Salvador, CEO of Sogeti wrote a foreword, well, Sogeti OWNS TMAP now, so 'go figgur' who just wanted to see his name in print. This book proves the value of the 1970s bumper sticker "QUESTION AUTHORITY." You might call this a 'vanity press' book, since it is Sogeti / Cap Gemini's 'sales promotion' for their 'qa processes'.

There are many, much better SQA books out there. Take a look at the lists provided by other SQA people on this site. My favorite SQA book (aside from my own book) is "Quality Essentials" by Jack B. Revelle. It is a 'cookbook' of sorts, a great reference material.

As for really learning SQA, hopefully you find your way into a company that has at its SQA helm, a focused QA Process/test expert who knows how to mentor and help you learn how to THINK and ANALYZE, someone like ME, for example. There are a lot of good senior QA people, now in leadership roles, who have an experientially acquired understanding of SQA in all its phases and permutations. Be thankful if you work for such a person! If you do not, google 'rational, RUP' and learn the IBM RUP processes. They are solid.

As for this book, don't waste your money.