G2.0 Opportunities for Incremental Testing Plan
- Due No Due Date
- Points None
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Introduction
Most products and systems have many components. If one component fails, the product will often not function as intended. Incremental testing of individual parts, subsystems, or subassemblies is often used when testing complex products. As an example, consider all of the sub-steps that most software completes as part of the overall function of the program. Because it is difficult to isolate and correct errors in large, complex programs, it is nearly impossible to create complex programs that work flawlessly without first testing the sub-steps. Testing sub-systems to make sure each works as expected before the system is assembled is one method of incremental testing. Another method is to continually layer functions in a program and test the growing partial program as the new functions are added. Both methods enable problems to be more easily isolated and corrected before the overall system is tested.
Equipment
- Engineering notebook
Procedure
Your team will identify subsystems in your design and determine how each must perform to be considered successful. You must determine the extent to which each subsystem or element should be tested. Is there a simple pass/fail test? Is a certain degree of success needed? Should the subsystem be tested once or repeatedly? Complete all work in your engineering notebook.
- Separate your design into individual parts or subsystems that can be created and tested individually. List and describe these separate components.
- Describe how you can test each component. Determine how each component must perform in order for the overall design to be a success. Then describe in detail the test results that will distinguish acceptable performance for each test.
Conclusion
- Which subsystem or element of your design do you believe has the highest probability of causing your design to function incorrectly? How are you planning to avoid the issue(s)?
- Think of an existing product or system and describe one element of that system that could be enhanced to dramatically improve the overall system.