Software errors can be incredibly costly – in fact, one recent report conducted by software testing company Tricentis analyzed over 600 various software failures from 314 companies and found that they resulted in $1.7 trillion in financial losses while affecting 3.6 billion people. Those are some startling numbers that highlight the importance of improving the software testing process.
Just like no real estate buyer is going to pay more for your home than what it’s worth (unless multiple buyers get into a bidding war), which is every seller needs to ask, “How much is my house worth?” before deciding to put it up on the market, no one wants to pay for a product that doesn’t work the way it was promised to. The image of the brand takes time to build, and when software fails, it maligns that reputation.
Consider these ways to improve the software testing process at your company in order to build or maintain the best reputation possible.
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Create a Quality Management Plan
You need to have a document that defines the acceptable level of product quality, as well as how the product will achieve that level, something is known as a quality management plan. It will help you organize and schedule necessary tasks to ensure that products meet expectations. Define your process, and have it approved by experts which will help to avoid bumps in the execution.
Don’t Hire Inexperienced Testers
Many organizations consider software testers as an entry-level position, with no or little experience under their belt. It’s important to respect your testers, hiring experienced staff who know how to code, which means they’ll be able to code some of their own testing tools.
Don’t Bypass the Testers in Product Development
An important part of ensuring a good software testing process is to involve the testers themselves in product development from the start. The testers will then have a better understanding of the product and its requirements so that they can develop the best possible tests, avoiding bugs in the final product while preventing potential delays in delivery.
Create a Test Plan
Be sure to create a test plan that includes a description of what and when to test as well as how to test and who will conduct them. It should also describe specific activities and the testing scope while including objectives and helping to control any risks. It should be written by a highly-experienced person such as a quality assurance manager. Be sure that it defines the roles of each team member so that everyone is clear as to what’s required of them.
