Abstract
Software development organizations are seeking to add quality to their products. Testing processes are strategic elements to manage projects and product quality. However, advances in technology and the emergence of increasingly critical applications make testing a complex task and large volumes of information are generated. In fact, software testing is a knowledge intensive process. Because of this, these organizations have shown a growing interest in Knowledge Management (KM) programs, which in turn support the improvement of testing procedures. KM emerges as a means to manage testing knowledge, and, consequently, to improve software quality. However, there are only a few KM solutions supporting software testing. This paper reports experiences from the development of an approach, called Ontology-based Testing Knowledge Management (OntoT-KM), that aims to assist in launching KM initiatives in the software testing domain with the support of Knowledge Management Systems (KMSs). OntoT-KM provides a process guiding how to start applying KM in software testing. OntoT-KM is based on the findings of a systematic mapping on KM in software testing and the results of a survey with testing practitioners. Moreover, OntoT-KM considers the conceptualization established by a Reference Ontology on Software Testing (ROoST). As a proof of concept, OntoT-KM was applied to develop a KMS called Testing KM Portal (TKMP), which was evaluated in terms of usefulness, usability, and functional correctness. Results show that the developed KMS from OntoT-KM is a potential system for managing knowledge in software testing, so, the approach can guide KM initiatives in software testing.
Highlights
With the emergence of new technologies during the last decades, more advanced techniques have been applied in software development, in order to achieve high-quality software products (Thrane, 2011)
Results show that the developed Knowledge Management Systems (KMSs) from OntoT-Knowledge Management (KM) is a potential system for managing knowledge in software testing, so, the approach can guide KM initiatives in software testing
Testing KM Portal (TKMP) was evaluated by 43 practitioners in Software Engineering, and it was based on GQM, Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), and functional correctness
Summary
With the emergence of new technologies during the last decades, more advanced techniques have been applied in software development, in order to achieve high-quality software products (Thrane, 2011). Software testing is a knowledge-intensive process, and it is important to provide computerized support for tasks of acquiring, processing, analyzing, and disseminating testing knowledge in an organization (Andrade et al, 2013; Souza, 2014) In this context, Knowledge Management (KM) emerges to manage testing knowledge, and, to improve software quality. The OntoT-KM approach is presented to help software organizations to implement an initial KM solution in software testing. The main contributions of this research are the guidelines provided by OntoT-KM for guiding KM initiatives in software testing These guidelines are supported by ROoST, and from the findings of the mapping study Souza et al (2015a) and the results of a survey with 86 testing practitioners.
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