Agile testing

Because digital transformation is now an urgent necessity for businesses of all sizes, the quality of an organization’s software — be that websites, mobile applications, or internal business systems — has become a key differentiator between firms trying to gain a competitive advantage and those that actually have one. With Agile testing, firms can rapidly develop and release software that users and businesses can depend on — reliable, defect-free software, that enhances the customer experience, improves organizational productivity, and generates new revenue streams.

By leveraging Agile testing methods, organizations can obtain a wide range of benefits. Firms can use Agile testing to expedite the delivery of software without compromising on quality. More efficient testing contributes to cost reduction and helps boost productivity and improve team morale. The collaborative nature of and regular communication fostered by Agile testing help teams better understand product requirements and thereby deliver a better product, software that meets the needs of the business and users. Continuous feedback flows and increased visibility across teams and team members help eliminate ambiguity, minimize misunderstanding, and keep everyone on track.

There are five key methods or ways of approaching software development and testing used in Agile testing environments:

The collaborative nature of, and regular communication fostered by, Agile testing helps teams better understand product requirements and thereby deliver a better product.

Agile testing is not simply a matter of picking and choosing from the various programming and testing methods described above. It requires all those involved in testing to have broad skill sets and a willingness to embrace and adapt quickly to change. The success of Agile testing, and really any initiative using the Agile methodology, also depends on how effectively team members are able to communicate and collaborate on a day-to-day basis. Team members must be willing to provide timely feedback and use the feedback they receive to continually refine their work and work method.

There are also some key best practices that development and testing teams can follow to help improve Agile testing outcomes. It is suggested that Agile teams:

• Start testing early. Get testers involved in the software development process right off the bat and allow testers and QA managers to work in parallel with developers.
• Test frequently but judiciously. Eliminate unnecessary tests and boost efficiency by focusing testing efforts on the most relevant and important scenarios and situations.
• Use risk-based testing to prioritize areas of high business risk. Identify which tests are most valuable in order to achieve optimal risk coverage and strengthen the end product.
• Leverage test management tools that can help you embed testing across the software delivery pipeline and provide stakeholders with full-scale visibility and traceability.

Team members must be willing to provide timely feedback and use the feedback they receive to continually refine their work and work method.

Tricentis qTest is an easy-to-use yet powerful test management solution that was designed to help organizations test smarter, test faster, and test at scale. qTest works seamlessly with open-source frameworks as well as commercial test automation tools and enables centralized management of Agile testing initiatives. It keeps teams and their tools connected — offering crystal clear visibility and full-scale traceability across the development pipeline. qTest can help your organization fully embrace Agile. Enhance collaboration, eliminate QA bottlenecks — and increase speed to market without sacrificing on quality — with Tricentis’s modern test management solution for the enterprise.