Are your development and testing teams struggling with poor quality software, escalating testing costs and longer time to market? As software projects increase in complexity and size, customers and users tend to get demanding in the face of the need to contain costs and release on time. This in turn makes it quite a challenge to effectively test software.
Get smart by optimising your test processes to release defect-free software and improve testing efficiency. Follow the seven steps listed below.
1) Gain insights into the 'As-Is' state of your test function
All process improvement methods require an initial assessment of current ‘As-Is’ practices. Test Maturity Assessment is essential to measure the current capability, identify shortcomings and define the improvement process. Doing so also helps baseline current practices against industry practices and identify important areas of improvement.
2) Detail a roadmap and action plan
Define a comprehensive improvement plan based on the assessment of the maturity of the test function. Take expert advice to identify best practices and methodologies to leverage in optimising test processes. The focus should be on developing measurable objectives and milestones for improvement.
3) Track the correct metrics
Software test metrics are the only objective means to determine effectiveness of the process. It is important to identify and track the right metrics to prevent wasted bandwidth. Utilise test metrics, which can help you accurately assess the effectiveness of the test process and measure progress towards improvement.
4) Embrace new test practices
Don’t get stuck in the old routine of testing. Implement improved test design techniques, risk-based testing, unscripted exploratory testing and best-fit implementation of test automation to improve test coverage and reduce testing efforts.
5) Select relevant testing tools
Use the right tools to effectively monitor, track and execute test cycles to improve efficiency and quality. Tool selection should be based on gap analysis within the current test function and relevant to the testing process, to avoid becoming shelf ware.
6) Invest in people
Awareness sessions, testing and domain-specific team training will improve the competency of the testing function. It will also help team members overcome any resistance they may have to change in the existing testing processes.
7) Implement causal analysis, continually evaluate and refactor
Identify the root cause of issues through causal analysis. This is important to continually improve testing process maturity. Continuous evaluation and refactoring enable testing teams to maximise test efficiency by reviewing areas of effectiveness and improvement throughout the software testing life cycle.
An initial assessment of the ‘As-Is’ state, diagnosis of the current situation and defining an action plan for improvement are critical success factors for test process optimisation.
At Mastek, our test maturity assessment and process optimisation framework ‘Qcheck’ is centred around augmenting the level of software test maturity. It helps with identifying process lacuna and implementing the right set of techniques to optimise test processes.
Need help with optimising your software test processes? Connect with us at info@mastek.com
