Systematic testing of software or systems can be studied in the same way as any other engineering discipline. There is a certification scheme for knowledge testers (ISTQB, ISEB, GTB), has a book (Myers 79, Beizer 95, Kaner 99, Copeland 2004) and has standards (Glossary ISTQB, BS 7925, IEEE 829, 1008, 1012). At the very least, books, and most standards exist for a long time, and many techniques are conventional. This means that testing can actually be studied and then implemented systematically.
However, this does not mean that the typical test methods described in these sources are widely used (Schaefer 2005). But at least you can do testing, "according to the book." In the tester or tester, there are two basic functions: creating test cases, as well as their implementation, monitoring and analyzing the results. If the results are not as expected, the discrepancies should be documented and tracked. In addition, modern techniques such as exploratory testing (Bach), including tasks such as automation and management of time in the task list testirovschika.
Normal way to perform the work of the tester – is to learn some techniques to follow these procedures, perform the test and finish a report on testing. The standard description of the problem is telling people: "test the system." Without specifying any details.Some books define the task of testing as "the obtaining of information about quality," or "measurement of quality» (Hetzel). Since the execution of the test is one of the last tasks in the project, very often it is performed under strict budget and time. This means that the tester has a hidden or obvious reason to compromise between speed and thoroughness of their work.
For example, as detection of defects begins to delay testing, delivery or acceptance of a product, there is a hidden motive did not find any defects or at least find not too serious. Testing merely "satisfied." Such work is not very attractive, investment in training is insufficient, people try to find another job, and testing over time does not improve.