How to collect more reliable defect reports

摘要

Resolving defects in software effectively can be expensive. Lack of reliable defect reports is often the cause. Sometimes, the parties involved spend more time analyzing poor defect reports than resolving defects. Collecting reliable reports is challenging. Testing defect reports for five characteristics and emphasizing seven process improvement tasks produces more reliable defect reports. Reliable defect reports tend to increase effectiveness of resolutions; quick and effective resolutions increase customer satisfaction and reduce maintenance cost. This paper defines five characteristics of reliable defect reports. It emphasizes seven process improvement tasks to collect more reliable defect reports. It provides examples of how to use simple tools to improve the characteristics of defect reports and the process.