6 QA Best Practices to Deliver Quality Software

With Agile methodologies, software testing has become an inseparable part of the development cycle. Testing is no longer aimed at catching bugs that cause inconsistencies with operation. Modern testing methodologies provide a birds-eye view on software functioning and compliance with business goals.

In this segment, we outline the eight ways you can improve the QA process while eliminating routine and repetitive processes.

1. Adopt different roles

Agile software testing methodologies encourage cross-functional collaboration, where software engineers write automated tests and UX designers take ownership of the end product. For example, UX designers validate the proper system responses like popups and error messages, speed of interaction elements, consistency across different screens and so on.

By bringing different expertise, you'll be able to step into the user's role and see a broader picture of system functioning, including proper user experience.

2. Set up a release criteria workflow

Release criteria are a set of rules that must be met to consider a release successful. A development team and project stakeholders reach an agreement on the terms of a successful release and create a list of SMART requirements. The requirements must align with the project's goals, be measurable and set a realistic expectation for team members.

3. Combine automated and manual testing

Since test automation methodologies were introduced, there have been lots of myths surrounding them. For example, businesses once believed that automated testing helped reduce manual testing to zero, speed up release cycles and act as a fix-all solution for software quality issues.

In reality, automated and manual testing serve different purposes. Automated tests can't replace manual tests completely, but they can be used to save time when completing large, repetitive sets of activities. Automated testing is a must in complex projects with long development cycles, implementation of CI/CD practices and a limited number of QA engineers. Manual testing is more time-consuming, but it enables development teams to test a website or app from the user's perspective, check usability and UI issues and test the overall functioning of a system.

Only a combination of these two testing types helps development teams achieve high standards in terms of product functionality and usability, expand test coverage and find bugs that were not detected automatically.

4. Prioritize bug fixes based on usage data

Prioritization of bugs impacts many factors, namely:

• The overall quality of an end software product.
  
• Readiness for the next stage of software development.
  
• Prioritization of current tasks.
  
• Readiness for acceptance testing and software release.

To build an efficient bug prioritization process, make sure you've included this activity in your project backlog so your team doesn't skip or delay it. Another essential step is to come up with a taxonomy of items like features, affected areas, root causes, etc. To decide what to fix first, devise a prioritization system. Opt for a scale based on severity, frequency, impact or other bug attributes that are the most relevant to your project.

5. Keep most valuable testing documentation

Testing documentation allows you to capture information about functionality requirements, structure tests in advance and flatten the learning curve for team newcomers.

There are three most popular test documentation formats:

• Checklists are best used for small projects since they're easy to maintain and don't take much time to create. They help small teams plan sprints and keep a history of successfully passed tests.
  
• Test cases keep the testing history, ease the onboarding of new members and help you see what a future website or app should look like.
  
• Test reports show test results, help you record test history, keep everyone on the same page and provide valuable insights regarding future releases.

6. Use ‘Shift Left’ testing

The earlier you detect bugs, the fewer resources you'll spend fixing them. Shift Left testing focuses on engaging QA engineers prior to critical stages in development. This approach helps you prevent defects rather than finding them.

In the Shift Left testing approach, QAs devise tests first. They're focused on business goals and customer expectations, which in turn allows developers to create software based on these tests and better meet the project requirements.

7. Ensure comprehensive test coverage 

Ensure comprehensive test coverage by testing all aspects of the software — functionality, performance, security and usability. Define test cases based on user stories and acceptance criteria to validate that the software meets user expectations. Use techniques like boundary value analysis, equivalence partitioning and exploratory testing to uncover defects across different scenarios.

8. Foster collaboration and communication

Foster a culture of collaboration and communication between QA engineers, developers, product managers and other stakeholders. Clear communication ensures that everyone understands project requirements, expectations and timelines. Regular meetings, stand-ups and retrospectives help teams identify issues early, prioritize tasks effectively and make informed decisions to deliver high-quality software.

TL;DR

Check out our list of ways to improve the QA process that'll help you get rid of routine and repetitive processes:

• Exchange your expertise with other team members and adopt design QA practices to test software usability and UI qualities.
  
• Devise release criteria to keep project stakeholders on the same page and increase your chances to build software that meets business goals.
  
• Don't rely on automated testing completely, mix it with manual testing.
  
• Create a clear and well-documented bug prioritization workflow.
  
• Testing artifacts like checklists and test cases helps you simplify the onboarding of new team members and keep project stakeholders informed about current and past activities.
  

If you’re interested in new career opportunities, explore our open QA engineer jobs internationally and apply.