Analysis:
One of the common technical issues that can lead to the failure of an automation project is the improper management of test environments, particularly the failure to reset the system to a known state after tests are executed.
Key Technical Issue:
B: Not returning the system to a pre-defined state after completing the execution of a suite of automated tests:
* Ensuring that the system is reset to a known state after each test run is crucial for maintaining test consistency and reliability. Without this, subsequent tests may produce unreliable results due to residual data or configurations from previous tests.
Explanation of Incorrect Options:
* A: Technical Test Analysts not developing business domain expertise for keyword-driven testing:
* While domain expertise is beneficial, the lack of it is not a primary technical issue that would cause an automation project to fail.
* C: Having to manually plan how to handle software failures in a test automation design:
* Manual planning for handling failures is part of test design and does not inherently cause project failure.
* D: Automated tests uncovering a higher than expected rate of defects in the software under test:
* Finding defects is the purpose of testing and does not represent a failure of the automation project.
References:
The ISTQB CTAL-TTA syllabus and standard practices in test automation emphasize the importance of environment management and maintaining a consistent test state.
Sources:
* ISTQB-CTAL-TTA Syllabus
* General knowledge on test automation and environment management.