CTFL 1.4.4: Explain the value of maintaining traceability
K2Syllabus section 1.4.4
3 original PrepBench practice questions for learning objective 1.4.4 of the CTFL 4.0 syllabus. Try the examples below and check each answer against its syllabus reference.
Practice questions
Question 1
A test manager needs to state to what extent the test objectives have been achieved. What makes that possible, and what has to be in place for it?
- The test completion report, provided that every planned test case has been executed
- Accurate traceability, provided that measurable coverage criteria are defined in the test basis
- The defect report backlog, provided that every reported defect has been triaged
- The test execution schedule, provided that it was followed without any deviation
Show answer
- The test completion report, provided that every planned test case has been executedThe completion report presents the evaluation; it is not what makes the evaluation possible.
- Correct answer: Accurate traceability, provided that measurable coverage criteria are defined in the test basisTraceability, together with measurable coverage criteria in the test basis.
- The defect report backlog, provided that every reported defect has been triagedTriaging defects says nothing about how far the test objectives were met.
- The test execution schedule, provided that it was followed without any deviationFollowing the schedule shows tests ran, not what coverage they achieved.
Accurate traceability supports coverage evaluation, so it is very useful if measurable coverage criteria are defined in the test basis. Those coverage criteria can then function as key performance indicators that drive the activities showing to what extent the test objectives have been achieved. Traceability without measurable criteria in the test basis cannot carry that judgement.
Syllabus section 1.4.4
Question 2
Before a release the team has to state how much risk remains in the product after testing. Which kind of traceability supports that judgement?
- Traceability of test results to risks, which allows the residual risk in a test object to be evaluated
- Traceability of test cases to requirements, which verifies that requirements are covered by test cases
- Traceability of defect reports to the developers who introduced the defects
- Traceability of test procedures to the test execution schedule that ordered them
Show answer
- Correct answer: Traceability of test results to risks, which allows the residual risk in a test object to be evaluatedResults traced to risks is what allows residual risk to be evaluated.
- Traceability of test cases to requirements, which verifies that requirements are covered by test casesThis is the other named example, and it answers a coverage question, not a risk one.
- Traceability of defect reports to the developers who introduced the defectsAttributing defects to individuals is not among the traceability examples given.
- Traceability of test procedures to the test execution schedule that ordered themLinking procedures to the schedule does not bear on remaining risk.
The syllabus gives two examples of what accurate traceability makes possible. Traceability of test cases to requirements can verify that the requirements are covered by test cases, and traceability of test results to risks can be used to evaluate the level of residual risk in a test object. It is the second of these that answers a question about remaining risk.
Syllabus section 1.4.4
Question 3
A regulator will audit the project, and the team separately needs to judge how a late requirement change affects the tests already written. Which single property of the testware serves both of those needs?
- Complete automation of the regression test suite
- A single consolidated test completion report covering the whole project
- Good traceability, which determines the impact of changes and facilitates audits
- A frozen baseline of the test basis that can no longer be changed
Show answer
- Complete automation of the regression test suiteAutomation speeds re-execution; it does not show what a change affects or serve an audit.
- A single consolidated test completion report covering the whole projectA completion report presents results; traceability is what makes it understandable.
- Correct answer: Good traceability, which determines the impact of changes and facilitates auditsTraceability covers both determining change impact and facilitating audits.
- A frozen baseline of the test basis that can no longer be changedFreezing the test basis prevents change rather than showing what a change affects.
In addition to evaluating coverage, good traceability makes it possible to determine the impact of changes, facilitates audits, and helps meet IT governance criteria. It also makes test progress and completion reports more easily understandable by including the status of test basis elements.
Syllabus section 1.4.4
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