How do you measure and demonstrate the value and impact of testing activities?

1 Know your audience

The first step to communicate software testing results and recommendations is to know your audience and tailor your message accordingly. Different stakeholders may have different expectations, interests, and levels of technical knowledge. For example, a project manager may want to know the overall status, risks, and issues of the testing process, while a developer may want to know the specific details, causes, and solutions of the defects. Therefore, you should identify your audience and their needs, and use appropriate language, format, and tone to address them.

2 Use visual aids

Visual aids can help you communicate software testing results and recommendations more clearly and convincingly. They can also capture the attention of your audience and make your message more memorable. Some examples of visual aids are charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, screenshots, and videos. You can use them to show the progress, coverage, quality, and impact of your testing activities, as well as to highlight the key findings, trends, and patterns. However, you should also be careful not to overload your audience with too much or irrelevant information, and to use consistent and accurate data sources and labels.

3 Provide context and analysis

Another tip to communicate software testing results and recommendations is to provide context and analysis for your data and findings. You should not only report what you have tested and found, but also explain why it matters, how it affects the project, and what it implies for the future. You should also provide your interpretation, evaluation, and opinion on the testing results, and support them with evidence and logic. For example, you can compare the actual and expected outcomes, identify the root causes and consequences of the defects, and assess the severity and priority of the issues.

4 Make actionable recommendations

The final tip to communicate software testing results and recommendations is to make actionable recommendations for improvement. You should not only point out the problems, but also propose the solutions. You should also be specific, realistic, and measurable in your recommendations, and align them with the project goals and constraints. For example, you can suggest the corrective and preventive actions, the responsible parties, the timelines, and the expected benefits and costs of your recommendations. You should also justify your recommendations with data and rationale, and anticipate and address any potential objections or questions.