The testing teams have not yet realized the importance of a potential test management tool that organizes even the toughest testing practices whether manual or automated. A team of developers, testers, operations, and others cannot manage every little detail in a very confined time span.
Similarly, a tester can try, but managing thousands or even hundreds of test cases at a time is mindless. This irregularity in test management causes delays that often cross the deadlines leading to a bad client-company relationship. This is the reason why a test management tool is required to create, execute, and report every test case in order to achieve a winning software development lifecycle in the end.
Tracking and organizing a test’s status is important and so is a Test Management Tool!
A big part of a QA organization’s success depends on its Test Management. An efficient test management tool keeps track of every test case, helps in timely product delivery and performs optimum coverage of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC).
Generally, a test or defect management tool follows this framework:
Identification > Categorization > Prioritization > Assignment > Resolution > Verification > Approval/Disapproval > Reporting
- Identification of bugs
- Categorization of bugs on the basis of their defect type
- Prioritization of bug fixing based on their gravity and severity
- Assignment or role division through specific medium
- Resolution: After fixing, bugs are placed in their previous locations
- Verification of bugs’ status: fixed or not
- Approval/Rejection of a test case after getting the bug fixed
- Custom Reporting of the bugs fixed
Features of Test Management Tools
There are tools that claim to help in maintaining records of everyday testing activities, but only a few meet the quality criteria.
Read on the following set of features that define a worthy Test Management Tool:
Collaborates with Automation and CI tools
Flexibility is the top characteristic of a fine test management tool. It integrates with multiple robust apps and tools, whether automation or CI tools. While looking for a test management tool consider its integration with top-tier automation testing tools as well as Continuous Integration Tools. The collaborations maintain a smooth workflow of the SDLC without delaying a test cycle.
Provides Analytical Reports
It is important that your tool provides an analytical outlook about the SDLC and its status. A rational tool lets the user trace the progress and development of the test cycle. The detailed traceability report delivers enough data about the performance and position of the test cases. Also, the tool skeptically defines a test suite’s progress during different intervals of time.
Defines Key Test Metrics
A capable test management application should also help in defining key test metrics that cover up the major requirements of a test project. These metrics and insights include execution cycles, test runs, test schedule, defect origin identification, prioritized fixing, and continuous feedback about the future improvements.
However, the key metrics and insights vary with the project and client requirements. Also, an adaptive test management tool should be able to support any test metric.
Integrates with Bug Tracking Tools
It is important to check if a test management resource connects with the outside bug tracking tools or not. Bug tracking or issue tracking is a core function of testing that also requires management and scheduling. A reliable bug management tool collaborates with any of the top bug tracking applications and supports detecting, fixing, and reporting of the bugs in real-time.
Custom defect reporting is a major feature of a test management tool for creating flexible reports just according to the test cases is significant for a successful test cycle.
Supports Multiple Test Cycles and Their Reusability
A helpful test management tool assures running multiple test cases on the same test cycle. These tools allow the testers introduce a new test case in an already running test cycle. It promotes maturation of the SDLC by reusing these test cycles in regression testing and other related practices.
The frequent reusability of modular test cases and test scenarios assure that the same resources can be utilized multiple times in other upcoming projects. In this way, Test management can efficiently save time and bucks, while the team can become more directed towards chief functionalities.
Offers Improved Security
A good Test Management Tool never compromises Security at any cost. Generally, high-end tools are SSL certified and imports and exports data via encrypted codes. A protected test management tool allows the safe sharing of data via any unauthorized channel of the internet.
Choosing a Test Management Tool or Defect Management Tool is never difficult if you know what your test management requires!
This article is written by Syed Qasim by Kualitee.
Onur Baskirt is a Software Engineering Leader with international experience in world-class companies. Now, he is a Software Engineering Lead at Emirates Airlines in Dubai.