Certified Software Quality Engineer Flashcards

Which software testing technique derives test cases by identifying equivalence classes of input data that the program treats the same way?

Answer: Equivalence partitioning

Equivalence partitioning divides input data into classes where the program behaves identically, reducing the number of test cases needed while maintaining coverage.

In software quality management, what is the primary purpose of a Software Quality Assurance (SQA) audit?

Answer: To verify that software development processes comply with defined plans and standards

SQA audits verify process compliance against defined plans, standards, and procedures rather than evaluating the product itself.

Which metric measures the number of defects found after software release compared to those found during testing?

Answer: Defect removal efficiency (DRE)

Defect Removal Efficiency (DRE) = defects found before release / (defects before release + defects after release), measuring how effectively testing caught defects.

According to IEEE standards, what distinguishes a 'fault' from a 'failure' in software quality terminology?

Answer: A fault is a defect in the code; a failure is the manifestation of that defect during execution

IEEE defines a fault as a static defect in the code, while a failure is the externally observable incorrect behavior that results when a fault is executed.

What is the main goal of software configuration management (SCM)?

Answer: To identify, control, and track changes to software work products throughout their lifecycle

SCM establishes and maintains the integrity of products by identifying configuration items, controlling changes, recording status, and auditing configurations.

Which of the following best describes 'static analysis' in software quality engineering?

Answer: Examining software artifacts without executing the code

Static analysis reviews code, design documents, or requirements without executing the software, including techniques like code reviews, inspections, and automated tool analysis.

In the context of the ASQ CSQE exam, what does 'software reliability' specifically measure?

Answer: The probability that software will perform its intended function without failure for a specified time under stated conditions

Software reliability is formally defined as the probability of failure-free operation for a specified time period in a specified environment.