Testing Techniques - Are they of any Practical Use?

Testing techniques are taught in universities and on many industrial training courses yet there is evidence to suggest that, in the corporate world, testers often find it difficult to apply the techniques and instead rely on domain knowledge and experience when designing tests. This is a shame as testing techniques are very effective at reducing the cost of testing by providing better coverage with less effort. When applying techniques it is important to be pragmatic and understand where they can add value to your test process. A business focused approach, based on risk, is essential. Commercial strength tools must be considered to support the test process although home grown solutions should not be ruled out in some situations. An appropriate investment in effective testing will yield dividends in the longer term and so further research is required to understand why testing techniques are not much more widely adopted throughout industry.