Methodical test strategies rely on some relatively informal but orderly and predictable approaches to figure out where to test.
Learning Based Strategy
With a learning based strategy, tester uses checklists that is developed over time to guide testing. These checklists are developed based on where bugs were found before, good ideas learnt from others or any other sources.
Function Based Strategy
With a function based strategy, tester identifies and then test each and every function of the system, often one at a time.
State Based Strategy
Similar to the function based strategy, with a state base strategy, tester would identify and test every state and every possible state transition that can occur in the system.
Quality Based Strategy
With a quality based strategy, tester uses a quality hierarchy such as ISO-9126 to identify and test the important characteristics of the system. For example, some groups in Hewlett-Packard use functionality, localization, usability, reliability, performance and scalability. IBM uses capability, usability, performance, reliability, installability, maintainability, documentation and operability.
With a methodical test strategy, tester follows these standard inventories of test objectives. These strategies can be quick and effective for systems that remain relatively stable or systems which are similar to those tested before. Significant changes might render these strategies temporarily ineffective until test objectives are adjusted to the new system or organizational realities.
Sourced from Surveying Test Strategies: A Guide to Smart Selection and Blending by Rex Black, Testing Experience Issue 2-2008. Slight modification has been made to original text.
