A key solution is that good data content can help reduce the workload of data maintenance. Good data can allow testing to carry on in areas not covered by the initial scripts and requirements. Naming conventions can help data to be accurate, and can make test results easier to interpret. A good test data structure promotes a common understanding and helps avoid mistakes. Accurate and appropriate content reduces the number of test process errors.
Data can help the business focus when requirements are vague.
User involvement in data descriptions allows early insight into possible problems. The presentation discusses the pitfalls and advantages of sourcing data from the business. About the Author James Lyndsay is an independent test consultant with ten years experience. Specialising in test strategy, he has worked in a range of businesses from banking and telecomms to the web, and pays keen attention to the way that his clients' focus is shifting away from functional testing.