Overview :
Correctly tested software contains approximately 80% fewer errors after development. Controlling quality from the start has a significant impact on the outcome of each test event. On the other hand, quality assurance strategies are not always effective. Currently, only one out of every three IT implementations is successful, i.e., bug-free software development. What you don’t want to do is create faulty systems that expose you to a slew of financial and reputational risks. As a result, you should look for ways to improve your testing and develop a more robust software testing process.
Beginning :
First and foremost, the concept that underpins successful software testing should be grasped. In other words, what does it mean to have a well-tested system? Thorough software testing comprises are as follows.
- up to 30% reduction in the implementation costs of a given functionality thanks to the identification of errors by the test team at the early stages of the project.
- 24/7 basic environmental verification with test automation.
- Up to 70%, less time spent on manual regression testing is ensured by automating the testing process.
High-quality testing :
The next step is to ensure that high-quality testing is carried out throughout the SDLC. This brings us to the main point of this post: how can the quality of testing be improved? We’ll go over five strategies to align your quality assurance measures with the development stages and build flawless software.
How to improve overall test quality :
Outline all aspects and requirements (planning), If we decide to test, we must also decide on the test goals: What are we striving for or What do we want to achieve? The answer to this question should be included in the test plans. Other topics covered by the test plan include as follows.
- Testing coverage and risk.
- Testing assumptions: testing techniques, test tools, test coverage, test team, etc.
- Test resources: people, environment, etc.,
- Implementation of the test policy and strategy,
- Plan for the analysis of tests and project activities,
- Determination of the test termination criterion.
Reevaluate your choices (design and review) :
Test analysis is the process of transforming broad test specifications into real test conditions and test design. The following crucial activities are included in test analysis and design as follows.
- Review of test fundamentals (such as requirements, architecture, design, interfaces)
- Identify test conditions or test requirements and required test data based on examining test artifacts, specifications, behavior, and structure.
- Determining the testability of system requirements
- Creating test environment settings and determining the necessary infrastructure and tools
Take-aways :
Here are some things to keep in mind before you begin testing.
Assigning roles and responsibilities :
The participation of executives is an important factor in determining the success of a software project. A leadership team aligned throughout an organization and articulates the goal, value, and reasoning for a software project goes a long way toward getting stakeholders and end-users to pull in the same direction. You should identify the key stakeholders in your organization who will be involved in the solution’s delivery. Here are some crucial QA roles and responsibilities are as follows.
- Manual test engineer: Prepares test scripts, finds bugs, and initiates testing. Manual quality assurance professionals must also collaborate with other automation resources to evaluate which areas are acceptable for automation and which are not.
- Automation test engineers use automation frameworks (standardized guidelines) to build these programs and write test scripts that do the testing.
- Test analyst: The whole point of having a test analyst on board is to make life easier for the QA engineer. Additionally, his role is to create the test document for all testing scenarios and outline test data needed to achieve the desired coverage.
- Test Architect: Looks for optimal solutions that will meet the client’s needs while also being in line with the team’s goals. The test architect should have a thorough understanding of the software system, its features, and how they interact with one another.
- Team lead: Usually works closely with the manager and is in charge of other processes such as hiring, status checks and updates, and team organization.
- Manager: Test managers are in charge of planning, coordinating, and controlling various testing activities. They begin by developing a test process and strategy that analyzes which test methods and tools are appropriate and used for test activities.
Selecting the right tools and environment for testing :
The process of selecting any software testing tools necessitates a significant amount of hands-on experience with both general testing and testing in your specific niche. However, there are times when the selection of tools falls into the hands of inexperienced individuals. The testing then fails, and the organization as a whole fails to deliver. Keep the following recommendations in mind when selecting a single tool or a set of tools are as follows.
- Clarify the goals of your testing.
- Consider the background of the software engineer.
- Keep in mind security issues.
- Discuss with your team which tools they need and prefer – manual or automated.
On-the-test strategies :
Introduce different tests depending on the testing level (implementation) :
The following tasks are involved in the software testing and execution process.
- In this, you will see different criteria for test cases like creating test data, developing and prioritizing test cases, writing test procedures, script for automation, and preparing test simulator environment, etc.
- Creating test suites from test cases for effective test execution.
- Executing test cases manually or using automated tools according to a planned sequence,
- Recording the results of the tests performed and save the version of the software being tested.
- Comparing actual results with expected results,
- Reporting differences as cases and analyzing them to determine their causes (e.g., code defect, bad test data, documentation error, or bad test instruction execution)
- Debugging to reverse negative results and ensure that defects no longer exist. Specifications are revised, and regression testing is performed to prove that previously unchanged areas or that the defect did not discover further defects.
Align quality assurance with quality control (testing) :
Quality assurance aids in developing efficient software, but quality control inspects the software’s quality to ensure that it meets the expected standards. Therefore, the test plan must be checked during the testing process, which is the purpose of the control process. We must constantly monitor how far we “deviate” from the initial goals. The following are the basic things to look for: measurement and analysis of results are as follows.
- The measurement and analysis of results,
- The tracking and documentation of progress, test coverage, and test completion criteria.
- Initiation of appropriate reactions to some changes, e.g., changes in the test environment or requirements.
Take-aways :
What must we remember during testing? Below are some crucial points.
Using Agile and DevOps methodologies :
Fundamentally, DevOps brings together two large siloed teams to allow for faster software releases. In contrast, Agile focuses on getting smaller teams to collaborate to respond quickly to ever-changing consumer needs. As of 2020, 95% of organizations were already using Agile methodologies, and 70% of such companies used DevOps between 2017 and 2018, according to a Statista report. If you’re wondering why more teams are adopting Agile and DevOps, here are the obvious reasons.
- Better collaborations between stakeholders and QA teams.
- Faster and continuous software iterations.
- Shorter release cycles.
- Better overall quality.
Post-testing strategies (maintenance) :
After the testing cycle is complete, what should be done next?
Prepare a detailed report :
This is where you check test results against defined goals and has to be done at each test level. Here are the criteria for reporting testing.
- Compare test results to the exit criteria specified in the test plans.
- Check to see if more tests are required or if the exit criteria should be modified.
- Create an easy-to-understand test summary for shareholders. Graphs, tables, and charts are frequently used to present the results.
Takeaways :
Let’s look at a few post-testing practices that will help you maintain software quality.
Tracking test metrics :
The goal of software testing metrics is to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the software testing process while also assisting in making better decisions for future testing by providing reliable data about the testing process. Do the following when calculating testing metrics.
- Use the right tools
- Use a suitable method
- Track the most important KPIs
- Determine success/failure
- Closing the tests
Test activities :
All completed test activities are collected to consolidate experience, test artifacts, facts, and figures at the end of the tests. For example, when the software is released to the market, the project is terminated (or stopped), the project milestones have been met, or the software version, including user comments and crashes, has been published. The activities involved in closing tests include:
- Checking which of the scheduled deliveries were made, checking the reports of closing test cases.
- Checking the change notification reports for those that remained open.
- Checking system acceptance documentation.
- Termination and archiving of all test artifacts for later re-use.
- Acquisition of test artifacts by the product maintenance organization.
- Analysis of what we have learned during the project so that this knowledge will serve us for future projects and improve the maturity of the test organization.
Where does quality testing end :
Many people do not believe it, but software testing never ends. It begins with the development of ideas and ends with the delivery of the product, but it is never a closed loop. We cannot claim that software quality is perfect and that nothing can be done to improve it. Even if the product has no defects, we can only say that with no defect that has yet been found.