How do you prioritize test cases in a fast-paced agile environment?

I approach this with the perspective of a new user who is just beginning to use our application. I focus on the initial user journeys, such as the sequence of Signup > Login > exploring the main page. It's also valuable to review User Journeys or Heatmaps from analytic tools to gain insights. Additionally, it's essential to clarify that there are certain "Risks" in software testing that we should not confuse here, such as incomplete requirements or a lack of test data. However, it's crucial to address these issues swiftly; otherwise, we may encounter difficulties in documenting the most critical test cases successfully.

In our approach, we address two critical risks: Quality Risk, which can diminish product quality perception, and Project Risk, affecting project success perception. We prioritize and sequence tests based on these risks, ensuring high-priority risks are tested first. This method allows for discovering defects early, aligns testing efforts with risks, enables smarter release decisions based on test outcomes, and under time constraints, permits dropping tests in reverse risk order. This strategy minimizes the increase in quality risk, maintaining product integrity.

To enhance risk-based testing, incorporating a layer that addresses broader risks affecting product quality and delivery speed is crucial. This layer focuses on systemic issues beyond individual test cases, such as low test automation coverage, developers' engagement in quality/testing activities, "throw over the wall" behavior, insufficient testing planning, and a lack of testing skills. Adopting a holistic approach ensures that testing efforts go beyond individual tasks to address overarching issues that impact the delivery of value to customers. Implementing tools such as a Quality Risk Register, actively used to identify and discuss mitigation strategies for these risks, is not only recommended but critical.

In a fast-paced Agile environment, I prioritize test cases by aligning them with business value and risk assessment, ensuring that high-impact features are tested first. I collaborate closely with the development team to understand the user stories and focus on critical paths that affect user experience. Additionally, I leverage automation for repetitive tests, allowing more time for exploratory testing on new functionalities. Regularly revisiting priorities based on sprint goals ensures that testing remains adaptive and relevant

PM plays a pivotal role here sine he/she acts as the vital link between the customer/business owner and QAs. While QAs possess a general understanding of which components are crucial, it's the PM who knows about the details. When new requirements emerge, PM should explicitly state the business value in the PRD (BRD). For instance, take the example of Amazon: == - User Story: As a registered user, I should see sale offers at the top of the main page so I can access them directly. - Acceptance Criteria: -- AC1: Given...When..Then... -- AC2: .. - Business Value: Increasing CTR on offers by 35%, resulting in a 5% boost in sales. == This approach empowers QAs to comprehend the significance of these changes and align their efforts accordingly.

Embracing Business Value Testing is like aligning our objectives to the product's goals. It’s also about ensuring our testing efforts directly support the business objectives. For instance, a new feature we're rolling out expected to significantly scale and ease users onboarding process globally. Testing this feature becomes paramount, as it holds high business value. Contrast this with an enhancement to an existing feature that's somewhat detached from core business goals, example updating error messages etc.; its testing takes a backseat. By prioritizing test cases based on their business impact, we not only streamline our testing process but also reinforce our commitment to delivering features that resonate most with business outcomes.

In addition to the test cases themselves, it's crucial to pay close attention to creating a strong and well-documented SETUP stage. Sometimes, this step can be quite extensive, often requiring tasks like configuring user settings, adjusting environmental variables, enabling or disabling specific app features, and even making changes to the database, such as adding or updating records. All of these actions are essential to establish the right conditions for running the tests. Typically, when QAs design test cases, the primary focus tends to be on the actual steps of the test. However, it's equally important to dedicate enough time to crafting a comprehensive setup stage. This sets the foundation for accurate and meaningful test executions.

Prioritizing test cases by dependency ensures an efficient testing process. A high-dependency scenario, like testing an Insurance Policy Renewal process, requires a sequence of interconnected tests - user authentication, test data readiness, overdue and premium checks, cover assessments, etc. - before reaching the final policy binding step. Each test relies on the successful completion of the previous one. In contrast, testing a static help center page is a low-dependency task, largely independent and ideal for early execution or automation. By systematically testing from low to high dependency, we create a logical test flow. This approach, balanced with considerations of business value and risks, enhances the application's quality.

The principles of clean code also extend to test case design. Let's draw parallels between them: Single-Responsibility: Each test case should focus on testing a single functionality. For instance, when testing profile settings, it's best to have separate tests for changing name and address. DRY: "Test Setup" is the place to preconditions, not steps (Since we check them in another test-case). For example, Signup for Login. KISS: A good test case should be simple enough that anyone, even not QAs can execute it without confusion. Additionally, it's crucial to adhere to the seven principles of testing. Such as avoiding: - checking of the absence of defects - ensuring that you write tests for every aspect of the application that is visible.

Prioritizing test cases based on complexity streamlines the test execution plan. Estimate the time and effort each test case requires to execute, generally following estimation template and guidelines. For example, a test involving multiple interfaces, complex business rules, multiple validation points, and etc. is categorized as high complexity due to its intricate nature. On the other hand, a test involving a simple action and check is deemed low complexity. Example, GUI field level Verification like login, or testing messages, etc. By organizing test cases from the simplest to the most complex, we can progressively tackle challenges from basic functionalities to intricate scenarios. A mixed approach is better to avoid late surprises.

Adopting test case feedback as a key strategy, consider the high-impact case of a SharePoint site creation for each new user, often failing due to service issues. This, along with crucial features like overdue details for policyholders needing frequent retesting, highlights its high feedback value and urgency. Contrast this with a consistently successful, low-impact test like sorting functionality on a webpage. By prioritizing high-feedback test cases, we focus our resources efficiently on critical areas, ensuring system reliability and enhancing the overall quality of the process.

In a fast-paced Agile environment, prioritizing test cases is efficiently managed through continuous test case feedback. Regularly collect insights from stakeholders, developers, and end-users to identify critical scenarios. Prioritize test cases based on business impact, user stories, and feedback loops. Embrace iterative testing, focusing on high-priority functionalities first. This dynamic approach ensures that testing efforts align with evolving project requirements, accelerating the delivery of valuable and high-quality increments in the rapidly changing Agile landscape.

Automated testing prioritizes stable and repetitive scenarios for efficiency, freeing up manual testing resources for more creative tasks. When it comes to prioritizing test cases for automation, I take into account the following factors that assist us: - Repetition - Stability - Predictability - Complexity - Coverage - Resource Availability By carefully weighing these factors, we can create a well-balanced test automation strategy that optimizes test coverage, improves test efficiency, and ultimately enhances the overall quality of the software.