Software Testing and the QA Manager
Your Goal: As a member of the Quality Assurance management team you must ensure that the product or service your organisation provides is fit for purpose and meets both external and internal requirements, including legal compliance and customer expectations.
Your Challenge: Overcoming the testing bottleneck to delivery high quality applications on time and on budget.
To a large extent, Quality Assurance departments have been let down by the software test automation industry. Despite millions of dollars spent on automation tools, testing still represents a huge bottleneck in the application development process.
It doesn't have to be this way. Original Software are software quality experts. We understand the challenges that face QA departments around the world, and we have made sure that our solutions can help them make huge improvements in overall software quality by being able to fully utilize the skills and resources at their disposal and without breaking the bank.
Did you know?
- Our own research suggests that as much as 80% of all testing is still being carried out manually. Our whitepaper 'Manual Testers Do Not Grow on Trees' suggests there is a better way than just throwing more resource at this age old issue.
- Despite spending millions of dollars on test automation every year, testing is still a huge bottleneck in application delivery. Find out why this can be in 'The Great Software Testing Swindle'.
- Read what some of the world's leading analysts have to say about Original Software and our approach to software test automation.
Agile Software Development
Agile has dramatically changed the way QA departments work. With agile, you and your team to be part of a close-knit group and carry out testing as requirements and code are changing constantly. Traditional automation tools cannot keep up with the constant change and as such become largely redundant. However, with TestDrive-Assist you can enjoy the benefits of limited automation, audit trail, and error reproduction within an Agile environment.
One area where TestDrive-Assist can be surprisingly appropriate is in unstable, changing circumstances. The two most notable situations are the first release of an application and in agile processes.
Paul Herzlich, Ovum
Next Generation Test Automation
Despite the millions spent on test automation tools over the last 20 years, testing is still perceived as a large bottleneck in application development. Our own research suggests that testing can account for 40% of total development time.
To us this is not acceptable. QA departments have been largely let down by traditional automation tools that rely heavily on specialist scripting languages to work.
But now it's time to move software test automation into the 21st Century.
Next generation test automation solutions do not rely on such complex scripting technology - and the advantages are there for all to see:
No scripting language
The technology is built in to the solution, not the script, so a more diverse audience within your business can use them. Test automation is no longer confined to programmers and scripters. Graphical scripts are built based on the user's interaction with the system under test.
Speedy implementation
Gone are the many months of building and preparation before a single item has been tested. With next generation solutions, you can be testing in days, not months and years. This means you can utilise your investment earlier.
Scripts that update themselves when applications change
The intelligent technology behind these solutions mean that they automatically recognise when an application interface has changed and the scripts are updated to reflect the changes. This means that the solutions are completely re-usable, no matter how often the application changes. As a result, the automation zone is no longer confined to those areas of the application that are stable and risk free.
A helping hand for manual testing
Solutions specifically designed to streamline manual testing can give testers a helping hand on all those applications where full automation is not yet appropriate, such as agile.
Broader testing scope - database testing
Data underpins the entire testing process. Poor data will result in poor testing. With growing emphasis being placed on data quality, it is vital that the integrity of your test data is protected at all stages of your testing project. The next generation of solutions can ensure your data is in A1 condition all the way through the testing process.
Projects and Resources
One of the biggest Quality Assurance management challenges is that of allocating the correct resources to each project, and to ensure all projects are on track to meet their goals. You and your team need to be agile, to adapt and respond quickly to ever changing business conditions and organizational priorities. That means they need to be able to communicate and collaborate with each other, regardless of their location.
As the manager you need a clear and simple reporting dashboard where you can keep a close eye on KPIs and produce management reports for closer scrutiny.
Integrated communication and collaboration with Qualify
Make Qualify your communication backbone and allow all team members to centrally manage and monitor your entire manual and automated testing assets, as well as communicate and collaborate throughout the quality lifecycle over one single platform.
With Qualify you have a single point of reference for all your application quality management needs. With fully configurable graphical dashboards, class leading integrated communication channels and multi format reporting, you now have all the information you need to make truly informed application quality decisions.
