Agile methodologies, when adopted for the first time, require a radical change in the way the managers and their teams think. The Agile way is often completely opposite of what enterprises have been doing in their entire operational history, which is why, in most cases, primary modi operandi are altered, in favor of new, streamlined processes.
Tools such as SCRUM help with the evolution of newly Agile teams, which is good for both the bottom line and product/service quality. However, what the majority of enterprises who are adopting Agile principles forget, is Agile testing. It is a plain fact that enterprises, especially those offering IT services and software, can never be fully Agile without timely Agile testing, both during the adoption phase and before it.
If your organization is looking to adopt the Agile methodology, then you should first know about the premier performance assessment that is Agile testing. To that end, in this article, we will be going over the fundamentals of Agile testing, and learning about why it is beneficial for both the host enterprise and the end users.
Agile Testing: Definition and Principles
IT enterprises have rigorous testing standards for each new software that gets launched into the market. This testing is done according to standards that are often unique to the enterprise performing it internally, and the standards that are common are usually not according to the Agile methodology.
The latter is what makes testing Agile I.e. Tests that are formulated and conducted keeping in mind Agile principles. Agile software development, a concept developed from the methodology itself, forms the basis of Agile testing, being the framework through which software is developed.
Following are some essential elements of the framework.
- Collaboration between design/development teams, quality control/assurance officials, and managers. Also, any other personnel who are closely involved in the developmental process.
- Collaboration with the customer, which includes surveys and demand inquiries, as well as feature-specific analysis to determine what the end-user wants out of their software.
- Agile-aligned, self-organizing teams that customize project requirements according to best practices, and more importantly, customers’ requirements.
Principles of Agile Testing
Following are the basic principles of Agile testing, that distinguish it from regular quality control tests.
- Agile testing is never just a phase: According to the Agile methodology, testing needs to be continuous, which is the only way to ensure consistent quality and maintenance of customer enthusiasm.
- Testing progresses the project: Standard testing provides necessary metrics and feedback once, which is not enough for the current climate in which continuous feedback and results are needed to keep the project moving ahead.
- Agile testing is not limited to test teams: Agile testing dictates that on the enterprise front, almost everyone involved in the project test it for bugs and quality issues. This includes business analysts and the developers themselves.
- Immediate response to feedback: Testing according to Agile principles allows business teams to receive feedback at every testing instant, of which there will be many. This enables them to respond much quicker to received feedback, and also fix issues with the project by relaying to issue to the concerned departments. Incidentally, this cuts fixing costs too.
- Code is kept clean: If there are any issues, they are dealt with promptly, which keeps the code clean. Also, the teams have control over the next iterations of the code, which can be put in with the previous issues in mind.
- Implementation during and after testing: Standard quality tests are done after the implementation of a process, or completion of the project, while Agile testing requires checks to be performed both during the implementation and after it, to ensure consistency and quality.
Collaboration for More Streamlined Testing
One of the primary features of Agile testing is the inherent collaboration that exists during tests. Agile dictates that all the teams be open to collaborate and share ideas, and testing is one area where this proves invaluable. Additionally, tracking platforms can help various teams keep an eye on progress, and raise questions at any moment when the project deviates from the ideal, pre-decided path.
Said paths are formulated after testing, which takes place at the START of the project! This means that initial testing determines the best path to take, thereby reducing the chances of errors later on in the development cycle.
Agile testing, performed according to the best practices framework, has tremendous benefits for IT enterprises. To start developing software with guaranteed increases to the overall bottom line, initiate Agile project management training today, for increased team productivity and process efficiency.