ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at a concept called net worth, primarily taken from the world of finance and accounting. It explains this concept to software testing projects with an objective to know whether the money spent on a testing project was a sound investment. The chapter also looks at certain metrics that could be collected as a part of test deliveries in order to increase net worth, release after release. Net worth is the difference that exists between the assets and what is owed. Calculating net worth involves totaling the amount of all debt obligations and subtracting that figure from the total worth of all assets. If better net worth means more money for the business, then what really matters is not sales but sales minus liabilities. Net worth can be increased by having more assets and fewer liabilities. But in testing it is not an easy task to increase assets.
