ISTQB FOUNDATION 4.0 | Tutorial 55 | Defect Management | Defect Report Template | CTFL Tutorials

Summary

This tutorial delves into the ISTQB Foundation Level certification, focusing on Chapter 5.5: Defect Management. It explains the necessity of writing defect reports, detailing their objectives such as providing resolution information, tracking work product quality, and suggesting improvements in development and testing processes. The video outlines essential fields for a defect report, including a unique identifier, title, date observed, issuing organization, author's role, test object and environment, test context, description, expected versus actual results, severity, priority, status, and references. The script emphasizes the importance of defect management for overall process improvement.

Takeaways

• 📚 The tutorial is focused on chapter 5.5 of ISTQB Foundation level certification, specifically on defect management.
• 🔍 Defect management is crucial for understanding the process of handling defects within the software testing life cycle (STLC).
• 🤔 Three key questions about defects are addressed: what is a defect, why write a defect report, and what should be included in a defect report.
• 📝 A defect report is essential for providing sufficient information to those responsible for resolving the issue, beyond just the tester's knowledge.
• 🔑 The objectives of writing a defect report include providing detailed information for resolution, tracking the quality of the work product, and offering ideas for improving the development and testing process.
• 📈 Defect reports help in evaluating the quality of both the test cases and the work products being tested, such as code or design.
• 💡 By analyzing defect reports, insights can be gained on which areas of the development or testing lifecycle need improvement.
• 📋 The minimum fields to include in a defect report are outlined by standards like ISO/IEC 29148, but organizations can add more based on their needs.
• 🔑 Key fields in a defect report include a unique identifier, title, date of observation, issuing organization, author and role, test object and environment, and a detailed description of the defect.
• 🔄 The status of a defect throughout its lifecycle, known as the bug or defect life cycle, can vary by organization but commonly includes statuses like new, open, resolved, reopened, and closed.
• 📘 Defect reports are not only for resolving issues but also serve as a tool for generating reports, tracking progress, and learning lessons to improve the overall test process.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of writing a defect report?

The main purpose of writing a defect report is to provide those responsible for handling and resolving reported defects with sufficient information to resolve the issue, and to document the defect for other stakeholders to understand what went wrong.

Why are verbal communications not recommended for defect reporting?

Verbal communications are not recommended because they are not documented and thus cannot be easily shared with all stakeholders who might be interested in the defect. It's important for the information to be accessible and understandable to everyone involved.

What are the three objectives typically associated with writing a defect report?

The three objectives are: 1) Provide sufficient information for resolving the defect, 2) Provide a means of tracking the quality of the work product, and 3) Provide ideas for improvement of the development and test process.

How does a defect report help in evaluating the quality of work products?

A defect report helps in evaluating the quality of work products by identifying which test cases are effective in finding defects and which areas of the product have the most defects, indicating potential areas for improvement in development or testing processes.

What is the significance of including the role of the author in a defect report?

Including the role of the author in a defect report is important because it clarifies who identified the defect, which can be a tester, developer, or designer. This helps in understanding the context of the defect and the perspective from which it was found.

What is meant by the 'test object and environment' in a defect report?

The 'test object and environment' refers to the specific item being tested and the conditions or settings in which the defect was identified. This provides context to understand where and under what circumstances the defect occurred.

Why is it important to include the expected and actual results in a defect report?

Including the expected and actual results in a defect report is important because it clearly outlines the discrepancy that constitutes the defect, helping those resolving the issue to understand the nature of the problem and what needs to be corrected.

What is the 'severity' of a defect, and why is it important to include in a defect report?

The 'severity' of a defect refers to the impact of the defect on the system or the end user. It is important to include because it helps prioritize which defects need to be fixed first, based on their urgency and impact.

What is a 'defect life cycle', and how does it relate to the status of a defect in a report?

A 'defect life cycle' is the journey a defect goes through from identification to resolution, including stages like 'new', 'open', 'resolved', 'reopen', and 'closed'. The status of a defect in a report helps track its progress through this life cycle.

Can additional fields beyond the standard ones be included in a defect report?

Yes, while there are standard fields recommended by guidelines like ISO/IEC 829, additional fields can be included in a defect report as per the product, project characteristics, or domain-specific requirements to provide more detailed information.

How does a defect report contribute to the overall improvement of the test process?

A defect report contributes to the overall improvement of the test process by providing insights into common issues, areas of weakness, and opportunities for improvement within the development and testing life cycle, allowing for more informed decision-making and process refinement.