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Why does it matter if a QA testing company, hired for a quick project, knows your goals and constraints for the project?
You know it needs to be tested, you’re already behind your plan and waiting for testing to be completed seems like a waste of time. You just need it done.
We’re frequently asked to “just get this tested out by tomorrow”. We can do that and we’re happy to do so. You’re in a rush, we know it and we want to be helpful to you.
But taking a few minutes up front can have a huge return.
Pause, Take a Deep Breath, Write Down Your Goals and Constraints
Just do a little bit of thinking about Goals and Constraints (or spend just a few minutes talking with us). You’ll dramatically increase your Certainty of Success. It works every time.
You’ll also get about 10X in increased value from the work of your QA testing company if you can explain your goal and/or constraint in a way they can understand and achieve.
All this can be a little tricky because software quality can be a goal or constraint – or both.
If you are clear about which one, you have an opportunity to either reduce your expenses or increase the return on your investment.
If you aren’t clear about which one, you’ll probably be disappointed with either the cost or the outcomes.
Here’s why:
Software Quality as a Goal
If software quality is a goal, is it specific and how much are you prepared to invest to achieve your goal?
What return do you expect for your investment after the QA testing company finishes the project?
For example, “No critical defects” is a software quality goal. “No customer-found defects” is another, but different, software quality goal.
One of these goals focuses on the types of defects and the other focuses on the availability and likelihood of defects. They appear similar but require different software testing approaches. Not all QA testing companies can recognize or build a strategy and plan to achieve these goals.
If your selected QA testing company isn’t clear on this type of goal, you’ll get as much testing as you can afford but you might not achieve your goal.
This is why it’s important to define and measure your software quality goals. Both defining and measuring your software quality goals are vital to assessing software quality as a goal. In regards to defining your goals, one of the first things you can do is to figure out if the testing is sufficient. Without enough testing on your product, the quality of software will be inferior by default. Some quality goals you can strive for in your software include:
- Reducing the number of non-executed test cases (ideally 0)
- High severity on open bugs/total bugs
- Un-targeted bugs
The metrics provided by these quality goals can determine the overall quality of the software for your application.
Software Quality as a Constraint
If software quality is a constraint, what is the most you’ll spend and the minimum you’d accept?
Will meeting the constraints be sufficient to achieve your business goals? You don’t want to come up short.
For example, “No previous features broken” is a type of goal and constraint. “Must fail gracefully without data loss” is another type of constraint.
Your unique constraints have an impact on the type of software testing strategy that your QA testing company chooses. Some constraints are very easy to accommodate and others can be a real challenge. Many QA testing companies skip this step and wind up disappointing their clients when they fail to achieve the goal AND the constraint.
When Software Quality is Both a Goal and a Constraint
When software quality is both a goal and a constraint, how will you measure the boundaries of expense versus investment?
If you limit your expense as a constraint, will the investment be sufficient to achieve your goal?
Yeah, those are some tough questions. It really helps to have a trusted QA testing company as a partner to discuss the scenarios and risks.
What is Your Quality Goal or Constraint?
If you don’t know, you’re not alone – most of our clients don’t have a clear idea when they first come to us for help.
At TESTCo, we prefer the “SMART” goal format and can easily help you “sharpen” your quality goal.
When software quality is viewed as a constraint, you should be able to clearly define the limits. We see this frequently with new clients, “We need this tested within X days and for $Y price, can you do that?” At TESTCo, we work with this situation frequently.
What is a SMART Goal?
Smart Goals are built on the S.M.A.R.T Criteria and stands for:
– Specific
– Measurable
– Achievable
– Results Focused (or Relevant)
– Time Bound
If you’ll use this short checklist when writing your goal, you will reduce the amount of time you need to build a good goal and your QA testing company will have an easier time understanding and achieving it for you.
Why Do I Need a SMART Goal?
You don’t need a SMART goal for working with a QA testing company, but if you can build one, you’ll get much more value and have better outcomes than if you don’t build a Smart Goal.
Many QA testing companies are happy to work for you without any goal at all. The problem that occurs without a goal is that all you can get is some testing activity and a list of defects.
While that sounds OK, you can and should expect more. Just testing and reporting defects can’t tell you much about the quality of your software or the team building your software. The most it can tell you is that you do have software defects.
If you do have a goal and you find one of the few QA testing companies that can help you achieve your goal, you’ll be rewarded with software testing, a list of defects and best of all, some real metrics, feedback and advice on specifically where you stand towards achieving your goal. Additionally, you’ll get expert consulting advice on how you can more easily achieve your goals in the future.
Otherwise, and without a goal, you’ll just get some testing and a list of defects.
The SMART goal format is advantageous because it provides measurable and detailed goals that account for both quality goals and any constraints you might have. This is extremely beneficial because if you fall short of your SMART goal, there is an objective reason as to why and you can know exactly what you need to fix. Meeting with TESTCo QA managers or senior test engineers can be helpful when crafting a SMART goal for your project. After discussing with the TESTCo team, everyone is on the same page as to what exactly the goals are for a given project. With the assistance of the daily reports provided by QA managers, you can track the progress that you are making towards achieving your SMART goal on a daily basis.
Plans Vs. Planning
Goals are used to create plans that are clear so that everyone on the team can help achieve the common goal. Plans are frequently seen as very important since they are typically used to measure the progress of a project – especially a QA testing project when everyone is waiting anxiously for the launch! At TESTCo, we’re experts at building plans and here’s why. QA testing projects very seldom run exactly according to plan. Why? Primarily because testing is done at or near the end of a project and there’s ALWAYS something else that someone wants included in the current release.
And, that’s fine. We’re bigger fans of Planning than Plans because we’ve learned that the critical thinking required to formulate and build a plan is the most valuable aspect of the plan. What? Yeah, it’s the thinking behind the plan rather than the plan itself that’s most important.
At some point, your QA testing plan is probably going to blow up when you least expect it. If your QA testing company doesn’t have planning experts or experience, how will you ever get your software project launched?
Planning allows for adjustments to be made for your project and it allows the QA team to be more agile. If a project doesn’t go according to a specific plan, it doesn’t necessarily mean it failed. Since QA tests don’t always go according to plan, it’s better to sit with the QA team and do a rough outline instead of coming with a specific, detailed plan. The QA manager and senior test engineers will help provide a roadmap for your application in order to aim for the best release time for your application.
Why All These Hard Questions?
At TESTCo, we have a strong team of experienced and talented software test engineers. We can “point” those talented engineers at almost any goal and they will achieve it. They like this a lot! We can also ask them to “just test it”. They don’t like this as much but they’ll do it gladly.
If we understand your goal, we can help you achieve it.
If we understand your constraint, we can meet it.
If we know both, we can deliver the “Sweet Spot” – high quality that delights your customers and a cost that delights your CFO.
Curious about avoiding pitfalls of outsourced software testing? This article highlights some important lessons.
The point of asking these thought-provoking questions is to help both you and TESTCo reach your software quality goals. By critically assessing factors like goal settings, key performance indicators and other metrics, a better strategy can be designed for your application. If you’re having a difficult time answering a question about your application, this is a great discussion point because the TESTCo engineers and QA managers will help you identify root causes of issues and solve them.
It’s also important for you to compile your most relevant and pertinent questions before you meet the QA team. This doesn’t have to be a long list of questions, but you should bring up the most pressing questions in regards to your application. These questions can be based on turnaround time, bug-related, functionality testing, performance testing and more. By asking questions that are specific to your application and the goals pertaining to it, you can give the QA team a better understanding of your needs.
This QA Testing Company Will Get the Right Answers in 45 Minutes
Our Scoping Process, a 45-minute conversation with you about what is important to you and your project, is designed to clarify your goals and constraints so that we have a perfectly clear picture of exactly what you need and want.
If you’re talking with a QA company and they aren’t asking about your goals and constraints, please give me a call and I’ll help you figure them out – and then achieve them! Here’s my number, 888-254-9709
Web Application Testing Case Study
/in Case Study, Web application testing /by Jeff HotzHow Comprehensive, Tightly Managed Web Application Testing Enabled PDS to Keep a Critical Commitment to Customers.
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About Pharmacy Development Services
Pharmacy Development Services helps pharmacies develop critical and fundamental business principles that allow them to operate successfully. Their services, systems and software allow pharmacy owners to strategically plan and execute pharmacy-specific operational, training and marketing programs.
Event Deadline and a Project in Shambles
Pharmacy Development Services was in a difficult situation. They were trying to create a new member services platform to improve the way their clients access key information, cooperative resources, communities and connections.
The software project, dubbed PDS Advantage, was to replace an antiquated seven-year-old platform that wasn’t living up to the needs of their pharmacy clients.
After months of development, the look and feel of the new web application was on target, but the functionality wasn’t there yet. “It seemed like there were a lot of elements working . . until they didn’t,” said Kelley Babcock, Chief Operating Officer at PDS.
“It was difficult for me to sift through all the technical stuff and determine who needed to be responsible for what and who was letting us down on our team – both internally and externally.” The company’s marketing agency should have been conducting web application testing during the development process, but they overlooked some key people and process issues.
Adding to the stress, was that the new software needed to launch at their yearly business development conference in Orlando, Florida. The February conference was only a month away, and they had scheduled their CEO to be on stage, demonstrating the new software and promoting its virtues. Client attendees were already looking forward to the big reveal.
The crisis ramped up even more in early January, just a month away from the show. “It became painfully apparent to me that we didn’t have an internal project plan, and we lacked a scope of work that would allow us to confidently hit the milestones necessary for a show date launch.” explained Babcock. They also wanted to have PDS members try the solution right after the conference.
“If we failed to meet the show deadline, the level of customer dissatisfaction level would have been astronomical,” said Babcock. “That may sound melodramatic, but even if 20% to 30% of our members were highly dissatisfied, it would have been catastrophic. If we lost 20% of our member base, for example, that kind of outcome was just unthinkable to us.”
TESTCo Rescue
In early January, PDS sent up an SOS signal to TESTCo. “Our credibility and the reputation of our CEO and founder Dan Benamoz was on the line,” said Babcock. “Fortunately, the minute I raised the alarm, Dan said, ‘I know who we have to call immediately!’” Benamoz and TESTCo’s founder, Jeff Hotz, belong to the same business strategy group, so the timing and support relationship were impeccable.
The companies made the proper introductions, and things went into crisis management mode. Babcock led daily meetings to navigate TESTCo employees through the challenges at hand. “I was driving those meetings,” said Babcock. “In non-crisis times, the COO is usually not the one drilling down to that level.”
“I was protecting our dedication to the user experience,” she continued. TESTCo’s Cristina Nistor led a team of developers, strategists and web application testing experts to manage the project.
A Comprehensive Web Application Testing Solution
TESTCo made sure every link, every function and every click behaved exactly how it should in the PDS Advantage application. They tested the application on every known browser and device, including Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer, desktops, tablets, iPads, iPhones, Androids and Windows Phones.
“I felt like the testing process was extremely comprehensive,” said Babcock. The project management software includes message boards, a resource library, implementation tools and internal communication features that each pharmacy can use. It’s pre-loaded with more than 40 turnkey programs designed specifically for pharmacists. If one of the pharmacies wants to implement a free children’s’ vitamin program, for example, the system makes it really easy. They search for ‘free children’s vitamins,’ and up comes a template with every step and resource needed to launch a comprehensive program. The resources include team training processes, marketing collateral, policies and more. All the user needs to do is search, download, assign tasks to their team and put a due date on the project.
“Our clients went to school to be pharmacists,” explained Babcock. “They didn’t go to school to become trainers, marketers, and operations managers. With our software solution, they don’t have to reinvent the wheel and do all heavy lifting on their own. That’s a huge benefit. They get to do what they do best – pharmacology.”
Just In Time
Even though they were working on a tight deadline and the tasks were highly technical, Babcock was easily able to follow their progress. “TESTCo put things into a language that was easy to understand and describe,” she said. “We were getting into the weeds, but our collaboration was delightful. You never thought about it as drudgery. I liked the personal connection.” That personal connection even went so far as to include changing languages. “When TESTCo found out that our marketing strategist for service delivery, Omar Avila, spoke Spanish, they started holding those meetings in Spanish, which was nice.”
When the PDS business development conference finally arrived, they were ready to go. CEO Benamoz took the stage and introduced the app, their marketing lead paced through some of the new features, and customers were able to test drive the new application right there at the show. “The confidence we felt was a direct result of TESTCo’s efforts,” said Babcock.
Key: A Strong Project Lead
Babcock credits a lot of the project’s success to TESTCo QA Manager Cristina Nistor. “She’s highly competent with great attention to detail, follow through, and execution,” said Babcock. “She could look at our processes and people – all the moving parts of the project – and isolate, identify and advise on next steps. Her level of expertise allowed me to have confidence that we’d get it done right before the show.”
The weeks leading up to the business development conference were tense for all involved, but everything worked out. “It was an unparalleled, exceptional experience in terms of service, competency, and advisory guidance,” said Babcock. “We couldn’t have done it without the TESTCo’s web application testing team.”
Software Test Automation Case Study
/0 Comments/in Automated software testing, Case Study, Software test automation /by Jeff HotzJournyx has customers worldwide and have been improving their products with software test automation for the past seven years. The company offers customers project, time and expense tracking software, and resource management software for forecasting projects, budget status, and employee time and availability.
Challenges/Pains
Before hiring TESTCo to manage software testing and develop best practices, Journyx was in a world of hurt. Early on, they used company staff and even some family members to bang on new software releases, but that didn’t work so well. This was about 15 years ago. “It’s difficult, repetitive work,” said Journyx CEO Curt Finch. “No one really likes it, and it’s not really a core competency.”
The company wasn’t able to hire more people for testing, but they were always under pressure to release new versions of their products. “We couldn’t get a handle on when our next release would show up and what level of quality it would be. We could say we’re going to ship this come hell or high water by May 1st, but we’d be in danger of shipping broken software.”
Journyx’s director of product management, Meredith Zachritz, had to manage a lot of the chaos at the time. “In the early days, our developers were responsible for testing their own code,” she said. “There were no robust peer code reviews. It was very messy. We just about drove ourselves out of business.”
The company didn’t have an official product manager back then, and they didn’t have the budget to hire testing resources in-house. “I was spending more than 50% of my time on testing and related fire drills,” said Zachritz. “It affected customer retention, and we lost confidence in our product’s ability to handle customer needs.” When mobile apps came along, complexity increased, and it was even more difficult to keep up.
Decision
The Journyx team eventually decided on outsourced testing, but they struggled with how to do it. Initially they hired contractors in India, but that failed. “We tried a couple of different firms,” said Zachritz. “It wasn’t apparent that they had QA expertise. If they did, the language barriers and time zone limitations were too difficult to overcome, and we couldn’t make it work. Our QA didn’t improve, and they didn’t understand what our goals were. They had no certifications or formal expertise, and no one was managing the entire project.”
Journyx ended up with nothing to show for their efforts – no test scripts, documentation or processes they could hand over to their internal development team. “We got what we paid for,” said Zachritz.
After that fiasco, Journyx hired a dedicated employee to be QA manager. They built up a set of test scripts – nothing automated – and some manual testing methods. “We had to train her,” said Zachritz. “She was only one person. When she was out, she wasn’t doing QA. And when she found a more attractive offer, she left. When you have someone in house, those are always issues.” That employee didn’t offer up any strategic guidance or best practice recommendations either.
Local, Accountable and Low-Cost Solution Helps Drive Revenue
Journyx eventually found TESTCo and solved everything in one fell swoop. They found a local company with the expertise to manage complex software testing and low-cost offshore testing labor. “What I like about TESTCo is that they’re an intermediary to different cultures,” said Finch. “At one point they switched testers from Romania to Ukraine, and we didn’t notice the change.”
“They’re here in Austin, and I can take them to lunch and hold them accountable or beg for forgiveness if we’ve messed something up on our end,” he continued. “We trust them, and the costs are very reasonable for what we get.”
Finch categorized the value of what TESTCo brings in terms of revenue, cost and risk. “TESTCo helps us understand exactly what we’re shipping,” said Finch. “We know customers will be happy with it right away, and our sales people have confidence in the software. That translates to increased sales.”
“The sales team is no longer afraid to demo stuff in presentations,” added Zachritz.
As Journyx rolls out new product features and new software, they reduce risk by leveraging TESTCo resources. “For one thing, I have reliable, detailed insight into the status of everything,” said Finch. “With TESTCo we’re able to have a known level of quality in a consistent, predictable way.”
Journyx can also examine potential costs and complexities when considering the addition of new software features. “We can ask TESTCo how much it’s going to cost to add something to the testing,” said Finch. “That’s a double-check on the complexity question. It’s like a reverse estimation tool.”
Virtual In-House Team
Zachritz meets with TESTCo for bi-weekly progress calls and has daily email status updates from the TESTCo team. “We coordinate as though TESTCo is an in-house team,” she said. “The TESTCo QA process is run for me. I don’t have to do anything but review status and answer questions. I contact them with adjustments. They come to me with best practices and next steps guidance. All of that is very powerful for me.”
She now spends about 5% of her time on testing chores (as opposed to the 50% she mentioned earlier). “Now I can spend my time on planning and execution, and avoid all that fire fighting,” said Zachritz.
With TESTCo, Journyx can also scale up and scale back resources depending on their release cycles. “We can really manage it closely in terms of what we need at a given time,” said Zachritz. “And it doesn’t hurt us when someone takes a two-week vacation during testing. The TESTCo replacements are seamless.”
Software Test Automation Moving Forward
The TESTCo solution allows Journyx to automate software testing processes, as well. The goal is to reduce regression testing cycle times and get new releases out in a shorter amount of time.
Initially, Journyx didn’t tackle software test automation when starting out with TESTCo, but they eventually decided to move ahead with it in order to further enhance productivity and free up resources. “We tried to implement an automation suite earlier,” said Zachritz, “but coverage was bad, the platform was difficult to maintain, it was open source, and it wasn’t possible to upgrade it.”
TESTCo recommended changing out the platform. The two companies went through a new platform evaluation process, and found a new system that fit Journyx’s budget.
The process helps them improve code quality, close the gaps between fixes and generally move faster as an organization. “Our support teams can now work on bug reports and patching custom solutions for customers,” she continued. “They can also work on the videos they create to help people configure their solutions. Software test automation allows us to work on more strategic projects because of the quality of releases.”
“All of it has transformed our business,” said Zachritz. “It’s really incredible how it works.”
Read more about TESTCo’s software test automation services.
How QA Testing Services Elevate the Role of QA Manager
/0 Comments/in QA Manager, QA testing, Software QA outsourcing /by Jeff HotzIn this Post
It’s safe to say that QA Managers are under-appreciated in their companies. Too often they’re seen by the rest of the organization as the person who prevented the product from launching on time. Ouch!
It’s completely unfair to be seen as the goat, and it’s certainly no fun to always be in firefighting mode.
What if I explained how using the right QA testing services can change the perception from goat to hero? Or, from “the head of testing”, to “our #1 brand ambassador?” I believe that QA can deliver a lot more value to the organization than simply testing software and reporting bugs. Consider this axiom:
I talk with QA Managers every day who want their team to be perceived as contributing more to the business. They just aren’t quite sure how to go about it. Permit me to present a perspective I’ve developed since founding TESTCo in 2002 (yep, that’s a lot of QA experience).
Identify and Communicate the Real Business Value of QA
The quality of your software is reflected in:
In fact, software quality probably means more than you realized! At the core of what QA does is mitigate risk that threatens to rob profits and dilute brand loyalty.
If your business builds software, mobile apps or websites (for yourself or others) then your business risk is high because of technology. In these cases, QA testing services become a very necessary and strategic asset for the organization. After all, it’s your software, mobile app or website that brings you new customers. What could be more critical to your business than that? Answer: Nothing.
Anxiety in the Face of Risk
It’s understandable if your anxiety is growing because your testing team (internal or outsourced) is giving you the run-around.
You know, those weekly Sprint meetings where you’re supposed to help Engineering get everyone on the same page, but you wind up feeling disgruntled? Like you didn’t get the information you really need from the testers.
Or, you’re having to calm down a frustrated engineering manager because of a fix-one, break-one scenario where software defects get fixed but something else breaks. Yeah, and what about the angry phone call from the product manager who’s hearing about surprising bugs that users are finding after release? There’s a way out of this nightmare.
The Best QA Testing Services Start with the Right Strategy
You’ve heard it before – there is more than one way to skin a cat. There is also more than one way to test your software. The key (and our preliminary goal for you) is to get as much QA testing services benefit as possible at the lowest possible cost.
Effective strategies start with a clear goal and list of constraints. These are the boundaries of the strategy and there are a variety of different ways to combine QA testing services in order to achieve your goal within your constraints.
The best strategy will provide you with the most benefit for the least cost. At TESTCo, we’ll provide you with several strategies we’ve considered and a recommendation for the one that suits your goals the best.
With a defined strategy you’re able to better communicate with Engineering and Product Management. You can set expectations more accurately.
Best Practices Beyond the Testing Tool Stack
We’ve been testing software since 2002. In that time we’ve perfected a process and philosophy that work really, really well for delivering business value beyond simply finding defects. You see, we don’t just find bugs, we help the development team deliver software that thrills and excites your customers. It’s not the tools we use, it’s the brain power and discipline we put into every assignment.
As QA Manager, when you have access to accurate information and clarity of purpose you’re in a stronger position to deliver business value that is broadly recognized and appreciated. The following is a list of “must-haves” if you seek to elevate QA’s contribution to the business.
Do our best practices pay off? Read what other QA Manager have to say about working with TESTCo.
Working with TESTCo actually makes us more efficient.
Having you on my team, working together and helping me reach my goals, is invaluable.
Indispensable to meeting delivery dates
We would not be able to commit to the release schedule we have without TESTCo’s help.
Increased Productivity of Engineers
By using TESTCo to drive our software QA testing, we’ve dramatically increased the productivity of our engineers. Now they can spend more time focused on product development and receive almost immediate feedback on fixes needed.
Peace of Mind
We needed to be MS OEM certified ASAP and the TESTCo team was able to jump in and get it done.
Integrated Into Our Culture
TESTCo provided staff with strong technical skills and the personality to propose creative solutions without waiting for direction.
Fantastic Job
TESTCo has done a fantastic job managing this, oftentimes haphazard and disorganized, testing project.
Objective Perspective
Having the objective perspective that TESTCo contributes is supporting our goal of providing a high quality end product to our customers.
A Pool of Trained Resources
TESTCo provides us with a pool of trained resources that gives us the flexibility to ramp up our software QA testing efforts on a very short notice.
An Extension of Our Team
TESTCo’s software testing services are very effective in uncovering software defects prior to release.
Drive Costs Down
The value of their staff extends well beyond the positive measurable ROI I receive each month.
Great Help
They quickly picked up familiarity with the product line and helped us get through our testing.
Synchronize Testing
They allow me to get a lot of manual testing done at once, and have helped synchronize testing efforts with the workflow in development.
More Than Pleased
We have completed our Forms application and are more than pleased with the work TESTCo performed for us.
Brains Matter
Notice in the previous section that I mentioned QA Manager and Test Engineers. I’ll expand on this important point.
Sure, you’re a QA Manager – in role if not in title. But imagine if you had on the project testing team a like-minded QA Manager to help you get the strategy right, develop the test plan, and report to you daily? This proposition is even more attractive when the QA Manager is available at no additional cost, speaks English fluently, and is based in the Central time zone (as is the case with TESTCo).
For example, if my company works for you, here are the things you can count on your QA Manager for:
I deliberately differentiate between Test Engineers and Testers. Software Test Engineer or Software Tester. Test Engineers are engineers who love to test. They have the mindset of engineers: “Let’s define the problem set a goal, and make it happen.” In other words, Test Engineers don’t have to be told what to do. They’ll figure out the best path to take once they understand the goals and constraints. Plus, because they’re engineers they know how to communicate effectively with the Dev team. Testers are generally limited to doing whatever you tell them to do.
We Know There’s More to QA Than Just Testing Software
I hope my perspective on QA is helpful to you. Maybe it has inspired you to elevate the role QA plays in the organization. I’d love the opportunity to help you.
We’re experts that diligently and consistently test and measure the quality and readings of your product relative to your business and technical goals.
We do the QA Testing work necessary for effective business and technical decisions. If you don’t have a daily report on your goals and quality, you’re missing key information that you need to build a stronger and more profitable business.
TESTCo provides everything you need in QA Testing Services to easily and successfully launch your website, mobile app or software.
Say good-bye to frustration, buggy software, disappointed customers and missed prospects. Say hello to a stronger and more profitable business because your software is an asset rather than a liability.
If this makes sense to you let’s talk about the state of software QA in your organization. Just click the green button on this page to schedule a time to chat with me.
Three Things to Know Before Looking for a Web Application Testing Service
/in Web application testing /by Jeff HotzSo, you think you’re ready for a web application testing service? Congrats!
That means your web application is almost ready!
You and your team have busted your buns over the past few weeks and you’re almost ready to launch.
You’ve tested it yourself already and it looks pretty darn good.
But, maybe you’re a little bit worried that you might have missed some bugs.
This launch is important to you and you want to make sure it works perfectly for every visitor, prospect and customer.
So, you’re looking for just a little help to make sure you have all the bugs and nasties worked out of your web application.
You searched for “Web Application Testing Service” and. . .
You don’t have the time to sort through all that nonsense just to see if those folks can help you.
OK, try this.
Do a little homework so finding the best web app testing service for you will be like a piece of cake.
Below is basic information to help you get focused. If you want more detail, check out the brief guide we’ve written about web application testing services.
Web Apps Have Three Primary Areas of Risk
There are more than three, but these are the biggies.
Functional Testing
Do the inputs and outputs of your web application behave correctly each and every time? If your team has already done a good job of testing this and you are confident in their work, then you can skip this service.
But, if you aren’t confident – even if it’s just a small or hard to test area of your web application – speak up and let us know. Your confidence in your web application is the biggest criteria.
Load and Performance Testing
Will your web application respond quickly enough when a lot of people visit? You probably haven’t considered this and it shouldn’t be a big concern unless you know that your web application is going to get hit pretty hard due to a planned marketing program. Even then, most modern technology stacks and cloud-based servers will let you adjust your web application server settings to quickly respond to a rapid increase in usage.
Testing Load and Performance will give you a definite read on when and where your web application will degrade under different loads. In most cases, you’ll be OK without testing this until you have a large user base or complex functionality in your web application. If you think you might have a high load or high usage situation, say something so we can include the best and most appropriate aspects of Load and Performance Testing in your test plan.
Cross Browser Testing (XBT)
Will your web application behave properly on all of the different devices, operating systems and browsers out there? This is the big one because browser technology is changing almost daily. Additionally, most mobile users give you about three seconds to lose their attention and desktop users will only give you about 5 seconds before they give up and move on. Said another way, This is the highest risk and least understood quality problem with almost every web application out there. And, the defect and bugs discovered in this type of testing are the sneakiest to ferret out.
Lastly, there are just too many different combinations of browsers, operating systems and devices to test every one economically. If you *know* your customers’ most common devices, operating systems and browsers, you’re off to a perfect start on Cross Browser Testing.
Three Things to Know Before Looking for a Web Application Testing Service
Here’s a case study that looks at how TESTCo’s web application testing service prevented a major fiasco and business failure.
TESTCo Software Testing Solutions Make Life Easy for Journyx Product Manager
/in Case Study, Software QA outsourcing /by Jeff HotzMeredith Zachritz, director of product management at Journyx, reviews customer requirements and market trends then turns that analysis into products that add significant, tangible value to the organizations that purchase them. Her work includes everything from research, development and QA to product promotion and follow-up support.
At one point, the company tried to outsource software testing to India, but it didn’t quite work. “There were communication issues,” explained Zachritz. “When new releases hit the customer base, code was incredibly buggy.” The ensuing support they had to deliver almost killed the company.
What Zachritz really needed was quality testing leadership, a clear roadmap for QA, and a solid testing management team that could provide highly-skilled engineering talent plus proven best practices.
TESTCo Delivers Testing Solutions Plus Tangible Customer Benefits
Since hiring TESTCo, Zachritz no longer worries about team management, rotations, hiring and training, and she can focus on release plans, software improvement and customer value. “Before, hiring and training interruptions would throw off all my annual release plans,” she said.
TESTCo delivered a complete solution, with a local Quality Assurance Manager (QAM) and an expert team of Testing Engineers (TEs). With TESTCo, Zachritz sees no interruption if a TE is replaced. “We don’t have to go out and do recruiting, hiring or even training” said Zachritz. “It’s just amazing how few interruptions there are.”
Prior to hiring TESTCo, the training piece alone would create an additional two to three weeks of disruption. With TESTCo’s pre-trained team in place, Zachritz plugs in a new TE within minutes of the previous engineer’s departure. Since that person is already trained and ready to go, there’s no lag in productivity.
For Zachritz, the improvements had a direct impact on her job and boosted her confidence in their software quality. The big development? Their latest release was delivered with zero customer found defects. That helped Zachritz look like a superstar within the company. “People here were saying, wow, nobody’s reporting any bugs!” said Zachritz. “It was a story going around the company. It was the highest quality release I can remember.”
That level of confidence was something Zachritz had never experienced beforehand. “I don’t have to worry about it, and I’m confident that I’m delivering a quality product,” she said.
Before, they used to have customer found defects that would generate a cycle of hot fixes, maintenance releases and general rework which would derail their release plan. With TESTCo’s QA, Zachritz didn’t have to worry about fixes and could focus on new valuable features for customers.
The improvements spilled over into other departments. The customer service department noted significant changes. “A lot of our existing customers tell us what wonderful support we have and how quickly we respond to any kind of an issue,” said Zachritz. “We’re just no longer bogged down with a ton of problems.”
Zachritz can now deliver valuable features faster, and get customer input on code that actually works. The results produce a direct impact on sales, since each new release and upgrade represents an opportunity for new revenues from existing and prospective customers. Journyx sales people also benefit. Their confidence in live demos increased exponentially and allowed them to present to clients with no embarrassing crashes.
With TESTCo as an outsource QA testing partner, Zachritz, Journyx, and the company’s customers all emerged victorious with a holistic solution to software development, testing and delivery.
About Journyx
Thousands of companies worldwide employ solutions from Journyx to track and manage their time, expenses and resources. Employees at some of the world’s largest companies use Journyx solutions to increase productivity and save money.
Software QA Services Ignored Value
/in QA outsourcing, Software QA outsourcing, Software QA testing /by Jeff HotzWhen is the value of software QA services lost or ignored? More often than you might believe.
In many software testing projects, there is a large chunk of real-world value that is left laying on the floor – ignored or overlooked. It’s a shame really, because software testing is actually just a small part of delivering the software QA services that result in the top-quality software that your customers expect.
The Ignored QA Report
Insane at it seems, recommendations for improving the software development process are often ignored when provided along with the defect report by a software testing company. Here’s why this crazy thing happens.
Very few people wake up and decide to make a strategic decision about their software quality. Most people wake up, go to the daily stand-up meeting and get whacked with a software quality problem. Then, they either change their plans to stay late for the rest of the week, OR start looking for help with the specific software testing services they need to solve the problem that whacked them that morning.
The Expense of Re-Applying the Band-Aid
Adding some software testing services will help solve the software quality problem from today’s daily stand-up. More software testing will almost always find more defects that can then be corrected and retested. This will improve your current software product’s software quality.
If you’re in the software business or build software to run your business, you should know that this strategy is an expense rather than an investment in long term software quality.
And, it could be an investment if you just asked for or read that software quality recommendation report that is often provided by an outsourced software testing company (this is in addition to the usual defect reports).
Extracting the Total Value from Software QA Services
Software testing is only the measurement activity in a larger activity of producing quality software. Again, testing only locates defects and measures your current quality.
TESTCo’s Software QA Services delivers everything you need to find and fix your software defects. What’s more, TESTCo also provides you with the analysis and recommendations (at no additional cost) you need to convert the cost of testing into a long-lasting investment in software quality.
Expense or investment? Just software testing, or QA improvement? You choose.
Make Engineering Fun Again. Improve The Human Stack With The Right QA Service.
/0 Comments/in Engineering Manager, QA outsourcing, QA testing /by Jeff HotzIn This Post
I’ve worked with software engineers, usually the head of engineering, my entire career. First, as a product manager, and since 2002, as Founder/CEO of a QA service outsourcing company. In that time I’ve gained deep respect for the people who carry the burden of bringing a vision to life in a manner that makes money for their organization. I know what thrills engineers. I know what aggravates the heck out of them.
Engineering Managers are architects and builders. They pull together the people, processes and technology required to build the machine that makes the software that powers the business. It’s a very big job. And it’s a whole lotta fun when the right Technical Stack and Human Stack are in place.
It’s a genuine joy when the process is flowing from specs and stories through code and integration into and out of testing.
It’s not any fun when the right tools or people are missing. That’s when the wheels of the Dev machine get wobbly. That’s when release dates are missed. That’s when irate customers complain about buggy software, apps or websites.
Fix The Weakest Link (In Your QA Team)
There’s a constant pressure to release robust products faster, and to turn out upgrades more frequently. This pressure eventually stresses the machine and it cracks at the weakest point. Where’s that?
Nine out of ten times the weakness is in the QA team. That’s where the bottlenecks and miscues tend to occur. This is when my phone rings and when I have another conversation with a stressed out engineering manager.
Let me get one thing straight here. I’m not talking about just providing your company with more testers. While having more QA bandwidth may solve some of the QA service issues, I know from experience that the core problem in QA isn’t numbers. It’s intelligence and drive.
You see, most testers are just looking for gigs until something better comes along. They might even be developers who can’t cut it in the big leagues. At TESTCo, I hire only software test engineers. These are people who live to develop and execute strategically-sound test plans. They not only find bugs efficiently they know how to offer feedback that actually improves the entire Dev process.
What if your software engineers had perfect stories with validation test cases as inputs to work from and then had immediate validation as soon as they finished?
What would your software process, throughput and quality look like if your Test Engineers were on the same “wavelength” as your Engineers. Powerful potential, right?
Inside TESTCo
TESTCo stresses using software test engineers instead of the normal testers on many QA teams. Choosing a test engineer over a normal tester can decide the success or failure of a given QA service project. Although some of their responsibilities overlap, the test engineer and tester play different roles within a QA team.
First, there are several key differences between a tester and a test engineer. A tester can run test cases and just tell whether the software worked or not. In contrast, a test engineer can find the root cause of why software failed and craft a strategy to fix the root issue. A test engineer helps prevent bugs in the development process and is responsible for improving the overall development process of the QA team. The tester focuses more on running test cases and finding bugs before releasing the product to consumers. The test engineer’s ability to fundamentally understand and problem-solve is what differentiates them from a tester.
The Test Engineer Advantage
A test engineer can learn your application, write test cases and organize the test cases into suites and consequently run them to write defect reports. These defect reports can be sent to your development team and they can fix the defects mentioned. A tester can’t do any of these tasks and can eventually undermine the efforts of your team; the tester can only run tests and tell you which ones passed or failed. The tester’s responsibility is to follow the given protocols and guidelines provided by the QA team. If there was something wrong in the development process, the tester could not recognize or fix the issue.
Rounding Out the QA Service Team with Extraordinary QA Managers
At TESTCo we provide a QA Manager for every project at no additional charge. What this does for you, the engineering manager, is two things.
First, our QA Managers are simply the best at identifying the right goals and priorities to pursue considering the constraints of the situation. Even if you have a terrific QA Manager already, our team adds serious brain power and objectivity. The test plans we create are designed to deliver real business value every day. Can you say that about your current test plans?
Second, you’ll never have to ask, “Where are we with the test plan?” This is because our QA Managers provide crystal-clear reports twice every day. You’re never waiting on QA for feedback. Equally important, you don’t have to be awake in the middle of the night to communicate with a TESTCo QA Manager. They’re located in the Central time zone and speak fluent English. You’ll understand each other perfectly.
The Many Roles of Your QA Manager at TESTCo
In addition to setting goals and reporting, a TESTCo QA manager plays many crucial roles in your QA service team. The QA manager is focused on building the most productive, high-performing QA team. Members of the QA team are often focused on the technical aspects like processes, automation and tools; the QA manager helps the members of the team see how their efforts are aligned with business objectives, product development and more. By connecting the individual responsibilities of members of the QA team with primary business objectives, the QA team will be in synergy with driving business results.
QA Manager as Quarterback
The QA manager is also a key indicator of how well run a QA service team is. The QA manager provides direction, counseling and mentoring to the members of a QA team. This allows the individual talents of the QA team to be maximized which directly improves the success of the QA team as a whole.
The QA managers at TESTCo are very skilled and have a track record of building successful QA teams. The QA managers are able to manage and direct QA teams towards the needs of the customers. The QA manager program at TESTCo hires and retains the best QA managers that lead the test engineer teams. Every project, regardless of size, accompanies a qualified QA manager that leads a team to execute on goals set out by customers. QA managers at TESTCo have at least 5 years of experience and one year of experience working with TESTCo. If you’d like to find out more about our QA managers, click here.
Experience the Difference at 30% – 50% Less
I describe TESTCo as a boutique software QA service company. We’re not a big test factory. We’re certainly not a bunch of strangers messing with your code. We are big enough, nimble enough, and smart enough to meet whatever testing demands a small or mid-sized company can throw at us.
This includes being able to jump on a single project within a day, or handle all of your QA through many release cycles. (We are the exclusive QA service resource for many of our clients).
Below are reviews of our services written by Engineering Managers like you who trust us and benefit from delivered promises at 30% – 50% less than the cost of internal QA resources.
TESTCo team addressed vulnerabilities that could have led to financial, and reputational damage.
TESTCo team addressed vulnerabilities that could have led to financial, and reputational damage.
We maintained Zero customer-found defects while cutting the QA budget in half
This was not an easy thing to do, but TESTCo management in general, and the QA team more specifically, found a way to make this happen.
The QA Manager is the force of quality improvement behind the scenes
QA Manager’s guidance and mentorship have not only elevated the quality of work but also began to cultivate a team that is enthusiastic about maintaining excellence.
New level of velocity in each sprint and fewer defects.
We are achieving a new level of velocity in each sprint; we are releasing with fewer defects, and we are identifying and rectifying potential issues before they escalate, which not only saved time but also upheld TESTCo’s reputation to deliver value every day.
They ask thoughtful questions, bringing clarity
TESTCo team is diligent, asks thoughtful questions, and they bring clarity.
The importance of setting quality goals that align with business objectives.
TESTCo emphasized the importance of setting quality goals that align with business objectives.
Now we are receiving QA feedback in less than a day.
I’ve been thrilled with TESTCo’s performance; we are receiving QA feedback in less than a day.
Indispensable to meeting delivery dates
We would not be able to commit to the release schedule we have without TESTCo’s help.
Great service
Great service
I Loved The Video Evidence of Defects
I loved the videos with defect evidence that shows me how to reproduce the defect exactly, that was really important and useful.
Very Thorough and Responsive
When issues are discovered, they provide detailed documentation of the issue and how to reproduce it, which is very helpful for debugging.
Two Major Assets
Going forward, we expect that TESTCo will enable us to better handle the peak demands in both development and QA.
Eliminate Performance Bottlenecks
As a result of TESTCo’s testing, our customer avoided a potential loss of $1M and we further enhanced the strong customer relationship.
Super Flexible
The team did great, the project went well and they were super flexible.
React Quickly
The biggest value in working with TESTCo has come from their ability to react quickly to changing needs and be accommodating of our unique process and approach.
First-Chair Participants
Unlike some other third party developers, TESTCo is in the “A” group with their ability to manage the writing of the code to test and release.
On Short Notice
TESTCo was able to supply test engineers on short notice allowing us to move fast. This would have not been possible with the local partners!
Quick Adjustments
By working with TESTCo we have the ability to make quick adjustments to staffing levels based on our needs which is something we didn’t have the flexibility to do with in-house staff.
Overwhelmingly Positive
Through working with TESTCo, we have been able to shape improvements to our own practices that reinforce our ability to deliver high quality software.
Affordable SQA
We could not afford this level of SQA if we did it in house.
Simplified Regression Testing
TESTCo provides on-going regression testing for our evolving product.
A Level of Technical Ability
I’d like to express how well your software QA outsourcing team has been working out on our project team.
Less Expensive No Sacrifice of Quality
By the use of TESTCo, we were able to do the kind of work that others could not do.
We Learned A Lot From You
You guys made us better and I wonder how much more can you do for us.
Strengthen the Development Machine With A Single Call
After a few minutes on the phone with me and one of my QA Managers you’ll notice the TESTCo difference. I bet you'll see that plugging TESTCo's QA service into your team will result in faster cycle times and more thrilled customers.
Oh, and you’ll see there’s a very good possibility that your job will start being fun again.
Click the green button on the page to schedule a conversation with me. I’m looking forward to speaking with you.
Does Your QA Testing Company Know Your Goals and Constraints?
/in QA outsourcing, Software QA outsourcing, Software QA testing /by Jeff HotzIn This Post
Why does it matter if a QA testing company, hired for a quick project, knows your goals and constraints for the project?
You know it needs to be tested, you’re already behind your plan and waiting for testing to be completed seems like a waste of time. You just need it done.
We’re frequently asked to “just get this tested out by tomorrow”. We can do that and we’re happy to do so. You’re in a rush, we know it and we want to be helpful to you.
But taking a few minutes up front can have a huge return.
Pause, Take a Deep Breath, Write Down Your Goals and Constraints
Just do a little bit of thinking about Goals and Constraints (or spend just a few minutes talking with us). You’ll dramatically increase your Certainty of Success. It works every time.
You’ll also get about 10X in increased value from the work of your QA testing company if you can explain your goal and/or constraint in a way they can understand and achieve.
All this can be a little tricky because software quality can be a goal or constraint – or both.
If you are clear about which one, you have an opportunity to either reduce your expenses or increase the return on your investment.
If you aren’t clear about which one, you’ll probably be disappointed with either the cost or the outcomes.
Here’s why:
Software Quality as a Goal
If software quality is a goal, is it specific and how much are you prepared to invest to achieve your goal?
What return do you expect for your investment after the QA testing company finishes the project?
For example, “No critical defects” is a software quality goal. “No customer-found defects” is another, but different, software quality goal.
One of these goals focuses on the types of defects and the other focuses on the availability and likelihood of defects. They appear similar but require different software testing approaches. Not all QA testing companies can recognize or build a strategy and plan to achieve these goals.
If your selected QA testing company isn’t clear on this type of goal, you’ll get as much testing as you can afford but you might not achieve your goal.
This is why it’s important to define and measure your software quality goals. Both defining and measuring your software quality goals are vital to assessing software quality as a goal. In regards to defining your goals, one of the first things you can do is to figure out if the testing is sufficient. Without enough testing on your product, the quality of software will be inferior by default. Some quality goals you can strive for in your software include:
The metrics provided by these quality goals can determine the overall quality of the software for your application.
Software Quality as a Constraint
If software quality is a constraint, what is the most you’ll spend and the minimum you’d accept?
Will meeting the constraints be sufficient to achieve your business goals? You don’t want to come up short.
For example, “No previous features broken” is a type of goal and constraint. “Must fail gracefully without data loss” is another type of constraint.
Your unique constraints have an impact on the type of software testing strategy that your QA testing company chooses. Some constraints are very easy to accommodate and others can be a real challenge. Many QA testing companies skip this step and wind up disappointing their clients when they fail to achieve the goal AND the constraint.
When Software Quality is Both a Goal and a Constraint
When software quality is both a goal and a constraint, how will you measure the boundaries of expense versus investment?
If you limit your expense as a constraint, will the investment be sufficient to achieve your goal?
Yeah, those are some tough questions. It really helps to have a trusted QA testing company as a partner to discuss the scenarios and risks.
What is Your Quality Goal or Constraint?
If you don’t know, you’re not alone – most of our clients don’t have a clear idea when they first come to us for help.
At TESTCo, we prefer the “SMART” goal format and can easily help you “sharpen” your quality goal.
When software quality is viewed as a constraint, you should be able to clearly define the limits. We see this frequently with new clients, “We need this tested within X days and for $Y price, can you do that?” At TESTCo, we work with this situation frequently.
What is a SMART Goal?
Smart Goals are built on the S.M.A.R.T Criteria and stands for:
– Specific
– Measurable
– Achievable
– Results Focused (or Relevant)
– Time Bound
If you’ll use this short checklist when writing your goal, you will reduce the amount of time you need to build a good goal and your QA testing company will have an easier time understanding and achieving it for you.
Why Do I Need a SMART Goal?
You don’t need a SMART goal for working with a QA testing company, but if you can build one, you’ll get much more value and have better outcomes than if you don’t build a Smart Goal.
Many QA testing companies are happy to work for you without any goal at all. The problem that occurs without a goal is that all you can get is some testing activity and a list of defects.
While that sounds OK, you can and should expect more. Just testing and reporting defects can’t tell you much about the quality of your software or the team building your software. The most it can tell you is that you do have software defects.
If you do have a goal and you find one of the few QA testing companies that can help you achieve your goal, you’ll be rewarded with software testing, a list of defects and best of all, some real metrics, feedback and advice on specifically where you stand towards achieving your goal. Additionally, you’ll get expert consulting advice on how you can more easily achieve your goals in the future.
Otherwise, and without a goal, you’ll just get some testing and a list of defects.
The SMART goal format is advantageous because it provides measurable and detailed goals that account for both quality goals and any constraints you might have. This is extremely beneficial because if you fall short of your SMART goal, there is an objective reason as to why and you can know exactly what you need to fix. Meeting with TESTCo QA managers or senior test engineers can be helpful when crafting a SMART goal for your project. After discussing with the TESTCo team, everyone is on the same page as to what exactly the goals are for a given project. With the assistance of the daily reports provided by QA managers, you can track the progress that you are making towards achieving your SMART goal on a daily basis.
Plans Vs. Planning
Goals are used to create plans that are clear so that everyone on the team can help achieve the common goal. Plans are frequently seen as very important since they are typically used to measure the progress of a project – especially a QA testing project when everyone is waiting anxiously for the launch! At TESTCo, we’re experts at building plans and here’s why. QA testing projects very seldom run exactly according to plan. Why? Primarily because testing is done at or near the end of a project and there’s ALWAYS something else that someone wants included in the current release.
And, that’s fine. We’re bigger fans of Planning than Plans because we’ve learned that the critical thinking required to formulate and build a plan is the most valuable aspect of the plan. What? Yeah, it’s the thinking behind the plan rather than the plan itself that’s most important.
At some point, your QA testing plan is probably going to blow up when you least expect it. If your QA testing company doesn’t have planning experts or experience, how will you ever get your software project launched?
Planning allows for adjustments to be made for your project and it allows the QA team to be more agile. If a project doesn’t go according to a specific plan, it doesn’t necessarily mean it failed. Since QA tests don’t always go according to plan, it’s better to sit with the QA team and do a rough outline instead of coming with a specific, detailed plan. The QA manager and senior test engineers will help provide a roadmap for your application in order to aim for the best release time for your application.
Why All These Hard Questions?
At TESTCo, we have a strong team of experienced and talented software test engineers. We can “point” those talented engineers at almost any goal and they will achieve it. They like this a lot! We can also ask them to “just test it”. They don’t like this as much but they’ll do it gladly.
If we understand your goal, we can help you achieve it.
If we understand your constraint, we can meet it.
If we know both, we can deliver the “Sweet Spot” – high quality that delights your customers and a cost that delights your CFO.
Curious about avoiding pitfalls of outsourced software testing? This article highlights some important lessons.
The point of asking these thought-provoking questions is to help both you and TESTCo reach your software quality goals. By critically assessing factors like goal settings, key performance indicators and other metrics, a better strategy can be designed for your application. If you’re having a difficult time answering a question about your application, this is a great discussion point because the TESTCo engineers and QA managers will help you identify root causes of issues and solve them.
It’s also important for you to compile your most relevant and pertinent questions before you meet the QA team. This doesn’t have to be a long list of questions, but you should bring up the most pressing questions in regards to your application. These questions can be based on turnaround time, bug-related, functionality testing, performance testing and more. By asking questions that are specific to your application and the goals pertaining to it, you can give the QA team a better understanding of your needs.
This QA Testing Company Will Get the Right Answers in 45 Minutes
Our Scoping Process, a 45-minute conversation with you about what is important to you and your project, is designed to clarify your goals and constraints so that we have a perfectly clear picture of exactly what you need and want.
If you’re talking with a QA company and they aren’t asking about your goals and constraints, please give me a call and I’ll help you figure them out – and then achieve them! Here’s my number, 888-254-9709
Reviewing Website Testing Companies
/in Website testing /by Jeff HotzIn This Post
There are three things you should think about when reviewing Website testing companies.
If you have a clear idea of these three critical aspects of working with a website testing company, your selection process will run smoothly and your “best choice” will be very obvious.
Comparing Website Testing Companies
What will it take to win your confidence that a website testing company can achieve your goals? That depends on what you want.
Website testing can cover the very simplest issues like testing for accurate rendering on just a few browsers to very complex issues like load and performance testing. But that’s mostly technical jargon. You probably have some business and project goals that are related to your website that you definitely want to achieve. Explain your business and technical goals to your proposed website testing company and then listen as they explain how they will work with you to achieve your goals.
It can be difficult to compare two or more items if the criteria are hard to measure. Here are a couple of simple but very important aspects of a website testing project that you can easily use to compare your preferred website testing companies.
A simple Yes/No score comparison between your preferred website testing companies should provide you with an easy solution for picking the best solution for your needs.
What Does it Take to Have Real Confidence in a Website Testing Company?
Are you worried or concerned about outsourcing to a website testing company? How can you know if you’re on the right (or wrong) track to finding the help you need?
If you are seeing danger signs that erode your confidence in the website testing companies with whom you are working, it’s not too late to give TESTCo a call – here’s why!
Here are a few more tips about selecting a website testing company.
How to Be Successful with Your Website Testing Company
How can you be confident that you’ll be successful with your outsourced website testing project? What might you do to insure the certainty of success?
Selecting an outsourced website testing company is only the first step. Next, you’ll want to make sure they are successful in achieving your goals for you. Your involvement with the website testing team will be important but it shouldn’t take a lot of your time. Here are some tips for making sure you get the most out of the website testing company that you select.
TESTCo’s Three Values for Website Testing Companies
At TESTCo, we believe there are three values that are really important for website testing companies to provide. See if you agree.
Safe – Our work and way of working with you is safe. You won’t have any surprises. Our work will follow a well-thought-out plan with twice-daily status reports. You’ll always know where things stand and how we’re doing honoring our promises to you.
Easy – We’re very easy to work with. You can have as much or as little transparency as you like. Our work processes will integrate yours without any interruptions. The defects we discover for you will be crystal clear and ready for fixing. And, we can stop and re-start with just a one days notice.
Reliable – We honor our promises and plans. Our QA Managers will present you with the best strategy and plan to accomplish your goals. Our Test Engineers have the experience you need and we’ll have your favorite Test Engineer ready when you need them again.
TESTCo, One of the Few Website Testing Companies that Delivers Business Value Every Day
If your website is an investment, then you’ll want to make sure you’re getting every bang for every buck you spend. In website testing projects, the test cases and test plan are your assets. They measure and validate the quality of your website – today and then again next quarter when you update it.
At TESTCo, we believe in honoring promises. Honoring promises produces trust and confidence. You want confidence that your website will meet your quality standards and represent you and your brand effectively.
Once you start talking to us, you’ll notice the difference between TESTCo and other website testing companies. Once we start working for you, you’ll know you made the right choice. Let us prove it.
Outsourcing Quality Assurance Helps In-House QA
/in QA outsourcing /by Jeff HotzThere are three things you can get from outsourcing quality assurance, even if you already have an in-house QA function.
I know, the thought of outsourcing may not have crossed your mind lately if release cycles are running smoothly and customers are loving your software, apps, or website.
But, for how long? You know that with each release the testing gets a little more complex; a little more time-consuming.
The Impact of Regression Testing Debt
Every time new features are added, the quality assurance cycle get’s a little longer…and longer…and longer.
Why is that? It’s called regression testing debt and it occurs because the amount of things that need to be tested increases each time new features are added.
Yes, the new features need to be tested, but the old features need to be tested as well to make sure the new features didn’t bungle them up and break them.
Kicking the Can Down the Road
Of course you’re thinking there’s probably no real budget to add additional quality assurance staff – the internal team is just going to have to do the best they can.
This approach might work for a little while but it won’t be sustainable unless you find some *leverage* to make your quality assurance team more efficient.
Outsourcing quality assurance – even for a project or two – can bring your in-house QA team a ton of learning, new techniques and better strategies to overcome the increasing workload that comes with regression testing debt.
The leverage and ROI on this approach is very high – and not just in terms of dollars or time.
Three Benefits When Outsourcing Quality Assurance Resource for Your Internal QA Team
Here’s how your in-house QA team can benefit from working on a couple software testing projects with an outsourced quality assurance team.
The Cost of QA Leverage
It should cost you less than $10K to engage with a well qualified and respected quality assurance partner for a project that runs a week or two.
In return, you should expect that your immediate testing needs are well covered and your in-house QA Team should get a range of the following benefits in addition to the software testing.
Where else are you going to get that kind of ROI and leverage? Keep your internal QA team sharp. Keep your customers (and your boss) happy. It’s all possible you choose an outsourcing quality assurance strategy for raising the level of performance in your internal QA team.
How a Software Testing Services Company Helps a Software Development Company
/in Software testing company /by Jeff HotzIf you aren’t releasing software as quickly and effectively as you think you can maybe a software testing services company can help.
Or maybe not.
There are 3 key leverage points that you should be getting from using a software testing services company.
Here’s how to know if you are getting the most value from your software testing services company.
It is very easy for a software testing services company to get disconnected from your software development team and then take the blame for late releases or poor quality.
Daily meetings are good but agendas get stale and the value of the meeting can begin to decline. Daily reports are also good but it is also very easy to just glance over or even delete a status report email. Add to that, the fact that software testing outcomes are a lagging indicator – not a leading indicator – and it is easy to find yourself with a software team that struggles to release quality software on time. Is there a simple fix? Not hardly, but there are 2 simple things you can do that will pull your software testing company closer to your software development team.
Two-a-Days Keep Both Teams Sharp
We have found that software services testing companies that report twice daily and adjust once weekly seem to produce the most benefit in keeping their software testing teams aligned and in sync with software development teams. But, there are some subtle elements to these reports and adjustments that make them very powerful tools you can use to meet your software product release and quality goals.
Here’s good reading if you’re interested in learning
how scorecards keep your software testing services company in line.
A Dedicated QA Manager Makes Magic Happen
You just can’t test every thing every time. And, you need to release quality software on time. This is where a dedicated QA Manager makes magic happen. In order to release software on time with the highest quality possible, a huge number of trade-offs need to be made to meet all of the constraints. This is part of release planning and a dedicated and experienced QA Manager can make your life easier and products better. Here’s how a dedicated QA Manager can help you get all the value you expect.
Hidden Benefits Behind the Scenes
There are three big benefits going on behind the scenes that may not be immediately obvious.
What You Should Expect from a Software Testing Services Company
At TESTCo, we believe in honoring promises. You make promises to your customers about the quality and reliability of your software. We can help you honor your promise to your customers.
At a minimum, you should expect that your software testing company is exclusively focused on software testing and software quality. It’s just that simple. You just can’t get the same level of software testing service and experience from a software testing company that does not specialize in software testing. If you’re doing this to save money, you probably won’t.
Your second indicator about the quality and capability of a software testing company can be seen in their Test Case Management System. Just ask, “How do you keep track of your test cases and test plans?” If your software testing company (or even your software development company) doesn’t use a Test Case Management tool then they aren’t well equipped to provide you the service and software testing outcomes that you need to honor your promises to your customers.
A Software Testing Services Company Should Deliver Value Every Day
At TESTCo, we know that simple processes that produce real value every day result in software products that meet their release date and quality goals. If you are having trouble meeting your software product goals, we’d enjoy the opportunity to share what we’ve learned and implemented for our clients every day.
What is the Right Way to Think About QA Software Testing Services?
/in Software QA outsourcing /by Jeff HotzIf you’re looking for help with QA software testing services, then this short guide may help you find and get exactly what you need and avoid wasting your time.
But first, there really isn’t a “right” way to think about QA software testing services. The only “right way” is the one that achieves your business and technical goals. We use three different approaches to understanding your business and technical needs so that we (and you) have a high degree of confidence that we will achieve your goal for you.
We look at QA testing services as having three different levels:
Strategic QA Software Testing Services – What the Boss Cares About
If you’re wondering how software QA can help you grow your business faster with greater profits and less risk, then strategic QA services is what you’re looking for. When we help our clients with software QA as part of their business strategy, we primarily focus on resources and leverage. We help them look at their software QA investments (people, tools and processes) in a way that allows them to continually identify and improve specific returns – retention, productivity and quality.
Frankly, most people aren’t looking for this when they first call us, but we include elements of strategic QA testing services in every engagement and project. This is a natural part of the work and value our QA Managers provide to our clients.
The real value of a strategic approach to QA services is two-fold. A strategic approach considers Assets and Advantages relative to Risk and Goals. The primary benefit is use and reuse of QA assets that you may already have and this saves you time and money. The secondary benefit of a strategic approach to QA services is the specific leverage of your current QA assets towards your goal and against risk so that you get a higher chance of achieving your business goal and a lower risk of a defect released into production and frustrating your users.
Project QA Software Testing Services – What the Project Manager and Product Manager Care About
If you’re wondering how you’re going to get that project fixed, finished, and released, then project QA testing services is what you’re looking for. Finishing software projects with a reasonable level of quality is easy. But, reasonable quality usually means “Google Beta” quality: There will be bugs; we both know it, and we agree not to complain about them.
That’s probably fine if you’re Google launching a Beta product or if you don’t really care if your software project is commercially viable.
However, if you are concerned about the quality of your software project, then you have some software testing work ahead of you.
In most cases, our clients know what they want but either aren’t sure how to get there or don’t have the time or talent to achieve their goals. When we work with clients on project QA testing services, we help them in three distinct ways.
How TESTCO’s Project QA Manager Helps
Your Project Manager cares mostly about her team achieving their project goal – usually a successful software release without any defects. Our Project QA software testing approach focuses primarily on optimizing time and money against achieving the project goal.
The primary way our QA Managers achieve goals for our clients is by using effective QA Strategies. There will almost always be more software QA and testing work than you can afford – it’s just the nature of our complex technology world. TESTCo’s QA Managers have a large library of QA strategies and hundreds of successfully completed software QA and testing projects under their belts. This makes it quick and easy to select the best strategy for your project so that we can achieve your goals.
You’ll frequently hear us asking about “progress against the goal” when we ask for your feedback on testing your software project. If you need to succeed with your project but aren’t sure how to get it all wrapped up and successfully released, our Project QA software testing services might be just what you need.
Tactical QA Software Testing Services- What the QA Manager Cares About
If you’re looking for a specific technique, talent or experience, to solve a specific QA problem, then you’re looking for tactical QA testing services. Some examples include Test Automation with Selenium, Load and Performance Testing, Cross Browser Testing and Regression Testing.
This approach tells us that you already have your software QA under control and are just looking to solve a specific problem. We have these talented test engineers and do this type of work frequently. If you’re looking for tactical QA Testing Services, it will be very beneficial if you’ve done some homework ahead of time so we can quickly understand exactly what you need and need to avoid. We can usually have a test engineer working on your project within a day or so of your request.
Getting More for Less
Although we look at QA Software Testing Services as 3 levels, you can and should expect to get more than just one – even if that’s all you really need.
For example, if you need help maintaining your test automation scripts (Tactical QA), you should also expect to be given some recommendations on how to manage this within your usual QA project so you can avoid maintenance lags in the future (Project QA). You should also expect to receive some advice on how you can maximize your returns and reduce your costs in the future (Strategic QA).
If you need help getting your project fixed, finished and launched (Project QA), you should also expect some detailed recommendations on tools and tactics that can improve your speed and quality (Tactical QA). You might also expect to receive recommendations on how to embed QA in the “front” part of your future projects as a way to reduce your QA time and increase the productivity of your developers.
Looking at QA from different standpoints can give you a better perspective on getting the most value for your time, money and effort.
Value and QA Software Testing Services
It can be a challenge to determine if you’re going to get the value you need from QA Software Testing Services. Here are 3 things you can think about before seeking software testing help that will help you make the best choice for you:
Unfortunately, these three critical items aren’t usually discussed in the phone calls where you’re looking for your next QA Software Testing Services partner. Don’t worry though, we’ll ask them even if you forget!
Safe, Easy, Reliable QA Software Testing Services
All software testing and quality assurance is aimed at one goal – find defects and risks before the software is launched. Prevent problems!
TESTCo is built on one vision – Safe, Easy & Reliable software testing and quality assurance. After all, you’re seeking less risk and more confidence in your software product. You definitely don’t need or want any additional risk or hassles from out-of-control “testers” or “just test-as-much-as-you-can” testing plans.
QA software testing services can come in a wide variety of flavors and styles. Make sure the QA software testing partner you select actually reduces risks and hassles rather than adding to them!
What does your selected QA software testing partner promise you?
At TESTCo, our promise is to achieve your goals in a manner that is Safe, Easy & Reliable.
One Outsourced QA Company That Excels at All Three Levels
Software QA testing services covers a lot of ground. If you can take the time to understand the nature of your software QA needs, TESTCo is an outsourced software QA company that can quickly adjust and work with you to provide you the level of QA software testing services you need to achieve your goals.