
A TPS report ("test procedure specification") is a document used by a
quality assurance group or individual, particularly in
software engineering
Software engineering is a systematic engineering approach to software development.
A software engineer is a person who applies the principles of software engineering to design, develop, maintain, test, and evaluate computer software. The term ' ...
, that describes the testing procedures and the testing process.
Definition
The official definition and creation is provided by the
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a 501(c)(3) professional association for electronic engineering and electrical engineering (and associated disciplines) with its corporate office in New York City and its operat ...
(IEEE) as follows:
In popular culture
''Office Space''
Its use in popular culture increased after the comedic 1999 film ''
Office Space
''Office Space'' is a 1999 American black comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. It satirizes the worklife of a typical 1990s software company, focusing on a handful of individuals weary of their jobs. It stars Ron Livingston, Jennifer ...
''. In the movie, multiple managers and coworkers inquire about an error that protagonist Peter Gibbons (played by
Ron Livingston
Ronald Joseph Livingston (born June 5, 1967) is an American actor. He is known for playing Peter Gibbons in the 1999 film '' Office Space'' and Captain Lewis Nixon III in the 2001 miniseries '' Band of Brothers.''
Livingston's other roles includ ...
) makes in omitting a cover sheet to send with his "TPS reports". It is used by Gibbons as an example that he has eight different bosses to whom he directly reports. According to the film's writer and director
Mike Judge
Michael Craig Judge (born October 17, 1962) is an American actor, animator, writer, producer, director and musician. He is the creator of the animated television series '' Beavis and Butt-Head'' (1993–1997, 2011, 2022–present), and the co-cr ...
, the abbreviation stood for "Test Program Set" in the movie.
After ''Office Space'', "TPS report" has come to connote pointless,
mindless paperwork, and an example of "literacy practices" in the work environment that are "meaningless exercises imposed upon employees by an inept and uncaring management" and "relentlessly mundane and enervating".
Other
In ''
King of the Hill
''King of the Hill'' is an American animated sitcom created by Mike Judge and Greg Daniels for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It aired its original non-syndicated run from January 12, 1997, to September 13, 2009, and centers on the Hills, an ...
'' (also produced by Mike Judge) Kahn is being chewed out, then remarks to his boss "No sir, I filed my TPS report yesterday."
The 2015 puzzle video game ''
Please, Don't Touch Anything'' featured the question "What is a TPS Report?" as one of many hidden clues that lead to a unique ending.
In ''
Lost'' season 1, episode 4, John Locke's boss says "Locke, I told you I need those TPS reports done by noon today."
In ''
Ralph Breaks the Internet
''Ralph Breaks the Internet'' is a 2018 American computer-animated comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The 57th animated film produced by the studio and the sequel to ...
'', a TPS report is visibly hanging in one of the cubicles seen during Ralph's viral video montage. However, it was incorrectly placed in a cubicle in the accounting department, where TPS reports are not functionally relevant.
In ''
Borderlands 2
''Borderlands 2'' is a 2012 first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. Taking place five years following the events of '' Borderlands'' (2009), the game is again set on the planet of Pandora ...
'', a legendary weapon is named the "Conference Call" with a flavor text description of "We need to talk about your
DPS reports", parodying the corporate term by replacing it with a common gaming abbreviation.
In ''
The Mandalorian
''The Mandalorian'' is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is the first live-action series in the ''Star Wars'' franchise, beginning five years after the events of ''Return ...
'', TPS reports are mentioned in the episode "
Chapter 15: The Believer" as work to do by the character
Migs Mayfeld when attempting to avoid an imperial officer, in a reference to ''Office Space''.
The TV series
The Family Man
''The Family Man'' is a 2000 American romantic fantasy comedy-drama film directed by Brett Ratner, from a screenplay by David Diamond and David Weissman. The film stars Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni, with Don Cheadle, Saul Rubinek, and J ...
features a scene in series 2, episode 1 in which the manager of the protagonist asks him to "start thinking about your TPS reports!", in amongst other apparent references to
Office Space
''Office Space'' is a 1999 American black comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. It satirizes the worklife of a typical 1990s software company, focusing on a handful of individuals weary of their jobs. It stars Ron Livingston, Jennifer ...
.
In the NCIS episode "Starting Over", Gary Cole's Agent Parker mentions his least favorite paperwork being TPS reports. When McGee corrects him telling him they're "TBS reports", he says, "Ah, old habits, weird", then takes a sip of coffee, paying homage to his Office Space character, Bill Lumbergh.
In Season 4, Episode 10 of Rescue Me (“High”), Janet Gavin starts a new job and hands off a TPS report at the beginning of the scene.
In the ''
Terry Tate: Office Linebacker'', Terry Tate yells, "You know you need a coversheet on your TPS reports Richard!"
In Season 2, during the first segment of the 28th Episode of ''
Puppy Dog Pals
''Puppy Dog Pals'' is an American computer- animated children's television series created by Harland Williams. The series debuted on Disney Junior in the United States on April 14, 2017.
Plot
''Puppy Dog Pals'' is about Bingo and Rolly, two ...
'' titled "Take Your Dog To Work Day", while Bingo and Rolly are playing office, Bingo says "One sec Rolly, these TPS reports aren't gonna fix themselves."
References
External links
*
Printable PDF TPS Report
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tps Report
Software testing
Popular culture neologisms
Computer humor