This publication deals with two major software quality management challenges. The first one is how to deliver a software product within a competitive time frame and with a adequate quality to the customer. The second one concerns how to best deal with the growing complexity of software applications using today's technology including client-server, internet, and legacy systems. Due to faster development cycles the quality of an application has to be monitored during operation, since the usage of the application and the technology around it might change from day-to-day. This book compiles experiences from different industries and perspectives. Its goal is to give practical insights into high-tech software development projects of today.

1. 1 The Pressure on Information Technology (IT) "In today's environment, the ability to react quickly to change by reducing the devel opment life cycle in order to be first to market will give a company an important com petitive edge. " -James Martin The market conditions of the 21 st century put business under continual pressure. The most successful companies are those who are able to reduce their time to market, to launch initiatives before their competitors, to respond very rapidly to opportunities in the marketplace or to change direction in response to a move by the competition or a change in circumstances. All of these business initiatives rely on support from Infor mation Technology (IT). For a business to launch a new product in three months time, the supporting IT processes must be available and working in that three month time frame. In this fast moving environment, late IT delivery is not acceptable and may pose a major risk to the business. The marketplace of 21 st century business measures timescales in months, whereas in the past, timescales of two to three years were more typical. Internet related and e business projects frequently require even tighter timescales, measured in days rather than months. This need for speed puts tremendous pressure on IT departments. Pressure does not just come from the need for speed. There is also an ever-increasing rate of change within business.

This book compiles current trends in software quality management and testing. Selected practitioners, experts and researchers contribute articles that provide both overviews over important topics as well as practical experience and insights from software development projects in industry. The topics include knowledge management QA and testing in the areas of web+based applications and railway/safety critical systems, cost effectiveness of quality management systems, test process improvement, testing of non-functional requirements and test tool trends.