Summary

Much of the success of a test effort is dependent on having a good estimate of the size of the test effort in the beginning. It is very common for test projects to be underestimated because too little is understood about their depth.

A good estimate starts with a good analysis. A map of the menu options alone is a quick way to begin to understand the depth of the project. A logic flow map is an invaluable tool for understanding the size of the undertaking and for tracking what has and has not been accomplished.

The map-building process is incremental. It does not matter who builds the map; any work that is done will help improve the test sizing estimate. The map constructed so far shows the function paths through the application. The paths controlled by data are analyzed next.

There is considerable pressure to do the minimal amount of testing. As a result, top-down approaches are popular. A top-down divide-and-conquer approach can yield a highly effective test effort.