iSQI TMMi-P_Syll2020 - TMMi - Test Maturity Model Integration Professional

At TMMi Level 5, theQuality Controlprocess area becomes relevant as it focuses on statistically managing and controlling the test process. Since the organisation is already at TMMi Level 4, moving to Level 5 involves ensuring that the test process is fully predictable, measured, and statistically controlled.Quality Control is a key process area in achieving TMMi Level 5 compliance, alongside other areas such as Defect Prevention and Test Process Optimization.

The specific goal "Coordinate the Peer Review Approach with the Dynamic Test Approach" belongs to the process areaAdvanced Reviewsat TMMi Level 4. This process area builds on the Peer Reviews process area introduced at TMMi Level 3 and aims to fully integrate static and dynamic testing processes. It ensures that peer reviews (static testing) are coordinated with the dynamic test approach, ensuring consistency between the two methods and optimising product quality measurement early in the lifecycle​​.

In the Test Design and Execution process area of TMMi Level 2, there are four specific goals. The relevant goals for this question are SG 2 (Perform Test Implementation) and SG 3 (Perform Test Execution):

SG 2 Perform Test Implementationincludes practices such as developing and prioritising test procedures and creating specific test data. Therefore, the specific practice that aligns with this goal is"Create specific test data" (III).

SG 3 Perform Test Executioninvolves executing the tests and logging the outcomes. One of the specific practices here is"Write test log" (II), which documents the execution data in a structured manner.

Thus, the correct pair is SG 2 withIII (Create specific test data)and SG 3 withII (Write test log)​​.

The specific practice "Define a coordinated approach that coordinates both static and dynamic testing" is part of theAdvanced Reviewsprocess area at TMMi Level 4. The goal of this process area is to integrate static and dynamic testing, particularly through peer reviews, which helps optimise both defect detection and product quality management throughout the lifecycle​​​.

Formal assessments, in contrast to informal ones, are conducted with more rigor, and the results can lead to an official certification of maturity level. A formal assessment report includes a validated maturity level rating, making it distinct from informal assessments, which are used only for indicative purposes and do not result in an official rating. Thus, only formal assessments provide an assessment report with a valid maturity level rating​​.

Thedebugging-oriented phaseof the evolutionary testing model aligns closely with TMMi Level 1 (Initial). At TMMi Level 1, testing is often chaotic and is not formally separated from debugging. The primary focus is on finding and fixing bugs, which reflects the characteristics of the debugging-oriented phase described in the Gelperin and Hetzel evolutionary testing model. Testing at this level lacks structure and is mainly an ad hoc activity aimed at removing defects from the software.

TheDebugging-oriented phasefrom Gelperin and Hetzel's evolutionary testing model is associated withMaturity Level 1 "Initial"of TMMi. At this maturity level, testing is not yet a distinct and well-defined process but is often interleaved with debugging. Organizations at this level have chaotic and ad-hoc testing activities, with no separation between testing and debugging.

Maturity Level 1organizations lack formal processes, and testing is often reactive, performed alongside fixing bugs in the code. This is in line with the debugging-oriented phase, where testing and debugging are seen as part of the same activity.

TMMi References:

TheTMMi frameworkdraws directly from the evolutionary model of Gelperin and Hetzel, associating theDebugging-oriented phasewith Level 1, which describes a chaotic, unmanaged testing environment​​.

"Provide Necessary Test Training" is part of theTest Training Programprocess area, not theTest Organizationprocess area. Test Organization focuses on establishing a structured group responsible for testing, defining roles, career paths, and implementing process improvements. Therefore, providing test training is not a specific goal of Test Organization but rather falls under the Test Training Program process area.

In an Agile context, some practices from TMMi levels 4 and 5 might be considered less relevant or adjusted to fit the Agile methodology. Specifically, at TMMi level 5, testing with statistical methods may indeed be less relevant. In Agile projects, operational profiles or usage models, which are essential to perform statistically valid testing, are often not utilised. Agile methodologies focus more on incremental development and continuous feedback loops, which do not typically rely on statistical sampling methods. Therefore, the statement that "Agile projects normally do not use operational profiles or usage models of a product on which to base statistically valid inferences to help create a representative sample of tests, thus the TMMi level 5 specific goal 'Testing is performed using Statistical Methods' is considered not relevant in an Agile context" is true​.

A key business reason for initiating a test improvement programme is to improve product reliability, which is directly related to the quality of the final product delivered to customers. Enhancing reliability through systematic testing can lead to fewer defects, higher customer satisfaction, and reduced costs associated with fixing issues post-release. This is often a priority in organisations where product quality and reliability are critical success factors, such as in industries like healthcare, automotive, or aviation.

The TMMi framework recognises that a focus on improving product quality, including reliability, is one of the major drivers for test process improvements. Testing processes that evolve and improve reliability provide value by reducing the risk of defects and ensuring that the software meets the defined quality criteria.