Web-based software testing by information

Abstract

Software testing is an inevitable phase of the Software Development Lifecycle as it ensures quality assurance. There are several practices undertaken by software testers though no standards are adhered to hence the need for this study arose to establish these practices and challenges associated with web-based software testing. The objectives of the study were to establish the practices of web-based software testing among consultants in Kenya and to determine the challenges of testing web-based applications. The study adopted a descriptive survey approach and the target population was all the 50 webbased ICT consulting firms in Kenya. These were the consultants that are engaged in software development and testing. The study collected primary data from the respondents. The target respondents were the project development team managers and Questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data on the respondents’ gender, age, professional training and size of the firms was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation). Data on the practices undertaken was also analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, mean scores and standard deviation) while that on the challenges of web-based software testing was analyzed using factor analysis. The study found out that ICT consulting firms in Kenya carry out web-based software testing practices. The use of Scenarios cases, testers being involved in the entire system development life cycle of the software, test cases being written for intended functionality first, test Reliability Testing, Scalability Testing, System Testing, Security and Usability testing and Browser compatibility testing are the ones faced by ICT consulting firms in Kenya in web-based software testing levels to a great extent. The study concluded that ICT consulting firms in Kenya carry out web-based software testing practices. The study further concluded that the use of scenario cases, testers being involved in the entire system development life cycle of the software, test cases being written for intended functionality first, test cases being availed to developers prior to coding and Feedback from Internal Betas used to fix problems are web-based software testing practices carried out by ICT consulting firms in Kenya to a very great extent. The study further concluded that the design and ongoing process of rapid content updating and management, rapid maintenance requirements, lack of skilled testers and integration issues with other systems are challenges faced by ICT consulting firms in Kenya in web-based software testing to a very great extent. The study recommends that the management should apply web-based software testing practices like testing the user interface to ensure interactivity, testing to be performed by an independent group of testers after the functionality is developed and Internal Betas be performed where a product is released to a limited number of customers before a larger shipment is made.