Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) Practice Test

Which costs are related to activities such as inspections and testing?

1. Prevention costs

2. Appraisal costs

3. Failure costs

4. Operational costs

The correct answer is: Appraisal costs

Appraisal costs are the expenses associated with evaluating and inspecting products to ensure they meet quality standards. These costs include activities such as testing and inspections that are conducted to identify defects or issues before the product is released to the customer. By investing in appraisal activities, organizations aim to prevent defective products from reaching the market, which ultimately helps maintain customer satisfaction and protect the brand's reputation. Prevention costs, on the other hand, are related to proactive measures taken to avoid defects in the first place, such as training and quality improvement processes. Failure costs can be categorized into internal and external costs that arise when defects are detected either before or after the product is delivered to customers. Operational costs typically encompass the expenses of running the business but are not specifically tied to quality assurance activities like inspections and testing. Thus, appraisal costs stand out as the most directly related to the activities mentioned in the question.