It requires many skills, including the ability to plan the testing efforts, generate hypotheses about defects, design test cases and
test procedures, collect and analyze measurements, set up the test environments, run the tests, and log and analyze test results. Software testers, like testers in other fields need tools to help them with their tasks. For example, digital test engineers regularly use tools such as simulators and test pattern generators to support their testing efforts. There are tools available to software testers, but there is a need to learn how to integrate them in a more effective manner into the testing process. Tool usage requires organizational investments in time and dollars.
Testers and their organizations need to understand that benefits from investing in testing tools