But these systems still take time. I tend to define a group of tests in a carefully thought-through test matrix. Then I execute some or all of the tests, checking off the cells as I run each test. This matrix defines the test and tracks my progress. Paperworking beyond this level is an additional expense, even if the paperwork-support tool is well designed.
Time is finite.
Testing staff is finite. Time you spend automating is not spent developing and running other tests. But stick with me for the first version of the program, for the moment. If you believe that the cost of finding and fixing bugs rises exponen- tially with time since the code was written, then delaying finding bugs is expensive. And they know the software is in good shape because you aren't finding many bugs in it.