TPI™ is the Sogeti model for the improvement of testing that offers insight into the maturity of the current test process and identifies improvement actions to accomplish the desired test maturity level. TPT™ has become the industry de facto global standard.
Features
- Covers complete test process (20 key areas)
- Objective (700 pre-defined checkpoints)
- Detailed: stepwise improvement possible
- Logical order of improvements
- Quick start to improvement
- Benchmark possibility (worldwide no.1 model)
Many organisations realise that improving the test process is essential for ensuring the quality of the information system and the overall business process.
However, in practice, it’s often challenging to define the steps required to improve and control the process, and in what order. This is similar to the improvement of the total software process, where models like the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) offer support.
In today’s business environment, developments occur at a very fast pace. The developers' productivity is continuously increasing and clients are demanding even higher levels of quality. Even if your current test process is satisfactory, this process will need improvement in the future. The Sogeti TPI™ model and can help you to achieve this goal.
The TPI™ model
The Test Process Improvement (TPI) model supports the improvement of test processes, and offers insight into the "maturity" of the test processes within your organisation. Based on this understanding, the model helps you to define gradual and controllable improvement steps. The model is depicted as follows:
TPI considers the different aspects of the test process, such as the use of test tools, design techniques or reporting. By evaluating various aspects, the strengths and weaknesses of the test process become clear.
These aspects are called the key areas. The TPI model has 20 key areas. These key areas are as follows:
- Test strategy
- Life cycle model
- Moment of involvement
- Estimating and planning
- Test specification techniques
- Static test techniques
- Metrics
- Test automation
- Test environment
- Office environment
- Commitment and motivation
- Test functions and training
- Scope of methodology
- Communication
- Reporting
- Defect management
- Testware management
- Test process management
- Evaluation
- Low-level testing
To gain insight into the state of these key areas, the model offers levels of maturity (from A to D). These levels are determined by time (faster), cost (cheaper) and/or quality (better). For example, for the key area Reporting, the levels are:
A. Report defects found
B. Report on the progress of the test process
C. Define risks for the system and provide recommendations, substantiated by metrics
D. Provide recommendations that have Software Process Improvement characteristics
All levels and key areas are related to each other in a Test Maturity Matrix. This provides a good way to define the internal priorities and dependencies between levels and key areas. In the matrix, each level is related to a certain scale of test maturity. This results in 13 scales of test maturity.
The key areas, levels and matrix are used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current test process, and to help define actions for improvement. Filling in the matrix makes it easier to evaluate the improvement proposals. The requirements for each level are defined in the form of checkpoints which are questions that need to be answered positively in order to qualify for that level. These checkpoints make an objective classification by level possible.
Improvement actions can be defined in terms of desired higher levels. Checkpoints help determine the actions required to achieve a higher level. Additionally, the model offers improvement suggestions to support test process improvement, which include a list of tips and ideas that can help in the effort to achieve the desired level.
TPI Assessment Approach
The following outlines Sogeti’s generic approach for a typical TPI Assessment:
- Obtain awareness for improvement - Agree on the need for improvement and get commitment from all involved that improvement is necessary
- Determine the scope for improvement - Establish the scope for the assessment, identifying the areas to be targeted for improvement
- Interview all your personnel - Interview all your key personnel that have direct or indirect influence over your test processes:
- Gather documentation - Gather and collate the key documents which feature in your test processes:
• Test Strategies
• Test Plans
• Test Scripts and other influencing documents where relevant.
- Establish your current test maturity - Using the TPI model and the Test Maturity Matrix, chart your organisations current test maturity, highlighting areas of strength and weakness
- Define improvement actions - Using the TPI model and the Test Maturity Matrix, define the improvement actions that will get your organisations test maturity to your desired level
- Present assessment findings - The key output of this assessment will be a detailed TPI Assessment report which will include:
• Your organisations current test maturity
• Your organisations desired test maturity
• Action plan outlining how to get from your current to your desired level of test maturity.
This report will be presented to you and your key personnel in a workshop at the end of the assessment. Feedback will be both encouraged and welcomed.