We apply these fundamentals in almost all aspects of our life and software testing is no exception. In software testing, we apply them to have a formalized test process in place – a process that will encompass all the quality assurance and control activities, carried out in a project to ensure the delivery of a quality product to end users.
However, plan, design, apply and exit are not the only fundamentals. We need much more than these core fundamentals to improve existing test processes to continue to operate optimally. And what are those additional activities to help us get there?
A Drive for Ongoing Improvement
Your test processes cannot be static. If they are static and haven’t changed in a while, they will soon become ineffective. However vigorous a test process might be, you always need to keep a check on the test process itself and adapt to the changes in the project so that your test process is up-to-date and meets the demand of the project and software industry.
As QA outsource testing lead manager, you should always be on the lookout for areas of improvement in your test process and customize them as needed to address your client and product needs. Processes might not be completely transferable from one client to another and from one project to another. So, keeping the core intact, the more you adapt to your current needs, the better would be your chances of succeeding using these processes.
Metrics and Analysis
Numbers help you represent your status objectively. Whatever SDLC model you follow in your project there are at least a standard set of metrics that you can always use, such as:
- Defect Resolution Effectiveness;
- Defect Density;
- Defect Containment Effectiveness.
Keep these metrics updated at all times. You can also add more metrics in line with your project such as number of showstoppers logged per build, number of defects logged per feature/story or number of reopened defects.
Resource Optimization
Every kind of resource needs to be up to date. Tools and technological resources need to be upgraded to the latest versions. Manual resources need to be regularly trained with new concepts to help them stay current in their knowhow.
With new technological advancements and new tools lining up in the market, a QA manager needs to keep evaluating and implementing required changes in his projects and also extend the required training sessions for his team members. On an ongoing basis, resource load balancing is also important to ensure resources are not overworked, whatever the resource type be.
Prioritization of testing tasks
Priorities keep changing everywhere and this applies to testing projects and tasks therein, as well. The sequence of events that were carried out in an earlier testing as service may not be the same in the current or future cycles, so you revisit changing project and task priorities to ensure they align with your project’s needs.
Communication
As always, communication holds the key to the success or failure of any project. So, it becomes very important to continually find and improve ways of communicating within the team. Be it the project status or issues or any concerns, a timely and rightly handled communication is something that is very necessary.
So, keep finding ways to improve and keep reporting through your channel. Communicating not just the good, but the bad and ugly too appropriately is important.
Keep in mind that raising a concern as early as you realize that it can lead to an incident would always help the team take action well in advance to overcome its risks.
Conduct training and walkthroughs
With new changes happening in the team, conducting training at regular intervals is of utmost importance. This process ensures that your team is always aware of the latest and greatest on your project. This level of transparency boosts your team’s confidence in the project and the management team and helps them contribute better.
Each member of the team should know exactly what their role is and they should be well trained to perform that role with precision. In addition regular training should be provided for existing resources to keep them updated and also to train them on new technology and tools.
Follow processes and practices
Processes are often looked down upon as additional overhead, mere documentation and mundane efforts. If processes are implemented keeping in mind the principles of enhancing team productivity, team empowerment yet being simple and customizable to address project needs, they can indeed be fun and useful to adopt.
Conclusion
Effective software testing requires a dynamic and multifaceted approach. A successful testing process demands continuous improvement, adaptability and a holistic view of project management. While implementing data-driven metrics and optimizing resources, organizations can create a robust testing framework that evolves with changing project needs and industry trends.
This comprehensive approach not only ensures the delivery of high-quality software but also empowers team members. It increases productivity and is ultimately more likely to lead to project success.
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