TM12 practice question 8 of 15

After a selection process you have selected a test management tool that is going be introduced in your organization and used by your test team in a…

Choose your answer, then check it against the explanation.

After a selection process you have selected a test management tool that is going be introduced in your organization and used by your test team in a pilot project. You have already identified the member of your test team who will be the administrator of the tool, since he/she has a significant experience with the administration of test management tools and so he/she is able to make effective and efficient up-front decisions about "how" the tool will be used. You have also developed a training plan for the other members of your test team. In collaboration with the administrator of the tool you have also devised standard ways of managing, storing and maintaining the tool and its assets including backup/restore procedures. You have also analyzed standard formats supported by the tool (CSV, XLS, XML, etc.) to export, import and archive all the information managed by the tool itself (requirements, test case specifications, test plans etc.) for compliance with the most important test management tools, in order to minimize the impacts of migrating this information to a new tool that could replace the existing one in the future. Which of the following phases in the lifecycle of the new tool has NOT been adequately considered in this description? Number of correct responses: 1

Answer options

Correct Answer:

Explanation

The scenario describes activities related to several phases of the tool's lifecycle. The selection process covers Acquisition. The creation of backup/restore procedures and standards for managing assets covers Support and Maintenance. Analyzing data export formats for future migration explicitly addresses the Retirement phase.

However, the 'Evolution' phase is not adequately considered. This phase involves the ongoing adaptation and growth of the tool's usage, such as rolling it out to other projects beyond the pilot, integrating it with other tools in the software development lifecycle (e.g., CI/CD pipelines), and planning for version upgrades. The description focuses on the initial setup and eventual replacement, omitting the strategy for its growth and adaptation over time.

Why Incorrect

A. Acquisition: This phase is explicitly mentioned in the first sentence: "After a selection process you have selected a test management tool..."

B. Support and maintenance: This is covered by the statement about devising "standard ways of managing, storing and maintaining the tool and its assets including backup/restore procedures."

D. Retirement: This phase is considered by analyzing "standard formats... to export, import and archive all the information... to minimize the impacts of migrating this information to a new tool."

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References

1. ISTQB Advanced Level Syllabus, Test Manager (Version 2012), Section 6.2, "Introducing a Tool into an Organization." This section outlines the lifecycle of tool implementation, including the pilot project (6.2.2), deployment (6.2.3), and defining usage guidelines (6.2.4). The scenario covers these initial steps but lacks consideration for the ongoing evolution, such as adapting the tool for new projects or integrating it further into the organization's processes, which is a critical part of its long-term lifecycle.

2. Black, R. (2014). Advanced Software Testing - Vol. 2: Guide to the ISTQB Advanced Certification as an Advanced Test Manager (2nd ed.). Rocky Nook. In Chapter 4, "Test Tools and Automation," the tool lifecycle is discussed. The text differentiates between initial deployment and ongoing support, which includes "upgrading the tool and test assets as new versions are released" and adapting its use. The scenario's focus on static maintenance (backups) and retirement planning neglects this dynamic 'Evolution' aspect.

Question 8 of 15

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