The software industry thrives on quality products. And behind every successful product is a team that doesn’t rest unless their product undergoes testing. The quality assurance team is responsible for enhancing business credibility with reliable products. However, testing the product after development can delay the launch. Hence, agility is critical for accelerated time-to-market.
87% of companies have embraced agile methodology for testing their software solutions. By implementing agile methods right from the start of SLDC (Software Development Lifecycle), businesses have a tight hold on the bugs, thus ensuring that code-cleaning is more efficient. To learn why agile methodology can enhance testing outcomes and how to integrate QA into the agile methodology, continue reading.
Reasons to Embrace Agile Methodology
For the longest time, developers and testers had worked in silos. As a result, the QA team only got to start work after developers finished building a product. Although time-tested, this method carried significant risks:
- If the testing team identified the bug, the development team had to rework the code. In other words, one team could begin work only when the other team finished theirs. Hence, project timelines got stretched.
- The teams were forever uncertain about when was a product launch likely.
So, how has agile methodology transformed the landscape? Listed below are some of its primary benefits:
- Teams no longer work in silos; Instead, they communicate internally on issues and setbacks, thus working towards a common goal.
- With developers and testers working closely, bugs resolve faster. Hence, this approach allows products to launch without delays.
- With bugs identified before a product launch, companies do not worry about quality issues.
However, the software testing company must be well-versed in the best practices and steps to implement the agile methodology in QA
How to Implement QA in Agile Methodology?
Here are ways to implement QA in agile methodology, smoothly:
Determine the Process
When teams embrace agile methodology, testing and development are simultaneous.
The development process gets divided into smaller iterations. Once the build is submitted at the end of every iteration, the QA team starts working on it.
The first step to integrating QA into agile methodology is identifying the iterations, determining the gaps, and executing the test cases. Once the stages are defined, the development and testing teams collaborate to build the software solution.
When defining the process, companies must ensure that the build and feedback move seamlessly between the development and testing teams. This will help the two teams finalize the build at the earliest and enhance the outcome.
Know the Users
Who is the end-user of the software solution? Defining the target market, identifying their personas, building images, and testing use cases are essential.
Planning the tests for a pre-determined target group helps develop a focused approach.
Analyze the Risks
Companies might face several risks when setting up the QA team with a new methodology. Hence, identifying the risks, and analyzing and mitigating them is crucial.
For instance, the end goal for any team is to create a bug-free product. However, one or several bugs may go unseen despite thorough QA checks. As a result, the teams must understand and assess various probable bugs. This understanding will help them mitigate the risks of unseen bugs. Additionally, it will also help them avoid problems during development.
After all, the QA team’s work doesn’t end at the launch of the application. They will continue working on resolving issues and patching bugs for better experiences.
Automate the Tests
It would help if the teams integrated automation with the correct methodology to improve test quality. While a few tests still require manual tools and techniques, several can be automated. Regression testing is, by far, the most tedious and time-consuming aspect of QA. It would help if specific iterations were automated to ensure the team members don’t spend much time testing the software. With the tools producing the test cases, the team can focus on the most critical tests.
Test automation solutions can help accelerate bug identification and resolution. If there are too many variables or cases where the users cannot reproduce the tests, they should opt for manual testing.
Early Testing Wins
As discussed, implementing QA at the start of the SLDC is one of the essentials. The agile testing company or provider should get to work as soon as the developer commits to the project’s first phase. This will ensure that the bugs are removed immediately. When the team tests smaller iterations, cleaning the code and maintaining the quality is easier.
However, testing early isn’t the only solution; tests should occur as frequently as possible. If the developers have committed to two builds, the testing teams test the co-relation to ensure smooth outcomes.
With this agility, they can test new features as soon as they are introduced. They can even save time and money by resolving problems and mitigating risks.
Solid White-box Testing Methods
When integrating QA with agile methodology, ensure the testing teams know the potential problems and outcomes. Planning will help them determine the risks and acknowledge the solutions easily.
For instance, they would have anticipated the issues that could cloud their judgment and would be aware of the different test scenarios and the potential outcomes. Hence, going into testing with an open and knowledgeable mind can help determine the errors and resolve them.
The idea behind implementing agile methodology is to ensure all departments work closely. Companies should opt for white box testing, as it anticipates error conditions, thus helping teams identify different scenarios.
Wrapping Up…
Moving from a traditional approach to an agile methodology is not the only way to ensure transformation. Businesses must shift their mentality, take a defined approach to achieve change, and streamline the process. As a result, collaborating with a competent agile testing business to integrate QA into testing processes is critical. They can assist in managing the integration in stages.
Originally published at https://www.impactqa.com on October 12, 2022.
