QW2002 Paper 6P1 Dr. Nancy Eickelmann (Motorola) Optimizing Test Productivity to Maximize Product Quality

Key Points

• Product quality results from the right mix of test activities
• Six Sigma can help me measure what will work best
• Six Sigma makes it possible to achieve a target quality for my software

Presentation Abstract

This paper will present case study findings from a Six Sigma Black Belt Project. Every Black Belt Project has a charter that defines the customer focus and the goals of the project. This project is designed to identify the key factors that impact test effectiveness for static and dynamic test technologies. Empirical data is collected and simulation models of the generic processes are created. The models that are created abstract away unnecessary details of the process and provide a test-bed to evaluate the two test technologies relative to their effectiveness, cost in effort, time required (duration), and complexity of the activity. The project results quantify the relative productivity of static analysis techniques versus dynamic automated test technologies.

About the Author

Dr. Nancy Eickelmann is currently a research scientist for Motorola Labs and is leading the Motorola software and system test process measurement and evaluation research initiative. Prior to joining Motorola she was program manager at the NASA/WVU Software Research Laboratory, located at the NASA Independent Verification and Validation research facility. Before joining NASA she was a member of the Advanced Programs Research Group at MCC where she developed a measurement framework for guiding the decision-making process in product line development. Dr. Eickelmann began her research career as a member of the technical staff at Hughes Research Laboratory (HRL) in Malibu, California while completing her doctorate at the University of California, Irvine. She was named a Hughes Doctoral Fellow while working at HRL and received several research awards while working with Dr. Debra Richardson's Formal Methods and Software Testing Group at UCI. Dr. Eickelmann has collaborated internationally on research projects for defense systems, space station applications, space shuttle and global software development. Dr. Eickelmann holds a B.S. Finance, M.B.A., M.S. and Ph.D. Computer Science.