Managing the Testing Process by Rex Black

The Librarian July 17, 2025

📝 Managing the Testing Process — The QA Manager’s Playbook You’ll Actually Use

🔍 Introduction

Managing the Testing Process by Rex Black is a must-read for anyone stepping into a lead or test management role.
While the title sounds formal, the book is packed with realistic advice, templates, and tools that can transform chaos into a controlled, documented, and repeatable QA process.

This 3rd edition updates classic concepts for today’s mixed Agile/Waterfall world, and it’s one of the most practical books in the QA manager’s toolkit.

📚 What You’ll Learn

How to plan, track, and report on software testing effectively
Techniques for risk-based test prioritization
Metrics that actually make sense (and how to avoid “vanity metrics”)
How to lead test teams, define roles, and manage stakeholders
Sample documents, templates, and checklists ready to adapt to your project

✅ Who Should Read This

QA leads and test managers
Senior testers preparing for ISTQB Advanced Test Manager certification
Scrum Masters or PMs who want to understand the QA side of delivery
Teams struggling with disorganized or undocumented test cycles

💡 My Top 3 Takeaways

Managing testing is not just about reporting bugs — it’s about managing risk, communication, and quality expectations.
Good test plans are living documents — concise, focused, and actually used.
Even in Agile environments, structured thinking saves time and prevents disaster.