QA & Test Integration with Agile

Agile software development is being implemented by increasing numbers of organizations in an effort to quickly meet the needs of their customers. Agile development methods were largely created by developers, and while the focus on team-owned quality and preventing defects are strong attributes, many organizations have difficulty integrating testers into the process, especially those accustomed to waterfall methods of software development.

The challenge is that waterfall testers have been conditioned to perceive that requirements MUST be complete before code and tests are written. Often they are also encouraged to minimize collaboration with developers to identify the needs of the customer or what should be tested. These are learned challenges that can be overcome with coaching and experience.

As a result, many Agile implementations start with collaborative analysis and development processes, but attempt to tack on testing at the end. Rather than integrating testing and QA throughout the iteration, many organizations apply only a cursory functional testing effort during analysis and development of user stories (requirements) and code, then perform a stabilization or testing iteration where the majority of testing occurs while developers and analysts move on to the next iteration of features. This creates a misalignment of effort and is nothing more than an inefficient hybrid of waterfall and Agile.

Zenergy can assist companies that wish to elevate and refine their agile implementations in two key ways.

• As an organization moves toward Agile, Zenergy consultants can determine the level of test integration based on industry recognized adoption frameworks. The outcome of this evaluation provides information and recommendations to assist the test team—as well as other groups—to act in a more collaborative, open environment while ensuring all involved in Agile development iterations view quality and testing in a holistic manner.
• Once Agile development methods have been introduced, some level of training and coaching is necessary before the team is fully integrated. Most agile coaches come from strong development backgrounds and often overlook the needs of the testers on the team. Zenergy’s consultants provide targeted techniques, both practical and proven, that better mentor testers in agile implementations.

Let Zenergy help you make your Agile teams the best they can be. Contact us today to learn more.