TESTQUAL: Conceptualizing software testing as a service

Software testing has emerged as a distinct responsibility in software development. This paper argues that software testing should be conceptualized as a service rather than being viewed as a sequential line of responsibility in software development. Testing as a service has two key aspects: (1) a service to developers, and (2) a service to end users. This paper draws from the SERVQUAL and software quality literature in information systems to propose a structured measurement tool for testing as a service and to briefly discuss its relationship with software quality. The TESTQUAL framework is described, and its components are defined and exemplified. The practical implications of TESTQUAL are also discussed