Software test process evaluation : an italian experience from the field

In the notion at the basis of this paper, testing is considered as a process spanning through the entire lifecycle of a software product, requiring such activities as planning, design, review, evaluation and maintenance. According to the objectives of a Technology Transfer programme started by the Istituto di Elaborazione dell'Informazione in co-operation with Qualital, a national University-Industry Consortium, a questionnaire was defined to colleet information on testing activities and techniques performed in Italian enterprises. Gathered data can be used both for test capability determination of the organisation and maturity level evaluation of the software testing process. From a first, short analysis of collected data it seems that testing as a complete process is hardly established and mostly single, black-box focused techniques are carried out.