Scrum is a popular agile framework for delivering software products in an iterative and incremental way. However, Scrum does not prescribe how to ensure the quality and coverage of the tests that verify the functionality and performance of the product. In this article, you will learn some practical tips to improve your Scrum test coverage and quality.
Be aware of the definition of done (DoD), which specifies the criteria that a product increment must meet to be considered complete and potentially releasable. The DoD should include clear and measurable test criteria that cover the functional and non-functional requirements, the user acceptance criteria, the code quality standards, and the compliance and security checks. Having a well-defined DoD helps to align the expectations of the product owner, the developers, and the testers, and to avoid ambiguity and rework.
I absolutely agree with having a definition of done. This helps to stay within the scope of the project or Sprint. Also important when defining test criteria is making sure the line of communication between QA and Dev is open. Gathering technical requirements from Dev helps QA to know which areas need to have regression testing. This way QA can focus on those specific areas rather than wasting time testing lower risk areas. Prioritizing testing is very important to make sure critical bugs are found earlier rather than when testing is almost completed. This gives time for Dev to fix those critical bugs and possible retesting in the same Sprint. Communication is key between all members of the Srum team when defining test criteria.
To improve test coverage, testing scope must be defined and agreed upon. Once the scope is clear, it is easy to determine the coverage considering the scope as target. Test quality can be improved with time and experience. In my experience a test engineer who has tested the product for longer period of time and is more familiar with the product will naturally contribute to the quality in a better manner.
Define a clear and comprehensive DoD that includes criteria related to test coverage. Ensure that all user stories or backlog items must meet these criteria before they are considered "done." This might include specific percentages of code coverage or the completion of certain types of testing
Defining test criteria: 1. Ensure Backlog items are well-defined and have clear testable acceptance criteria 2. Verify there is a clear Definition of Done 3, Involve testers early to gain their input on the testability of prioritized backlog items, and to foster collaboration
It is essential to improve Scrum test coverage and quality is to automate as much testing as possible. Automation enables faster and more frequent feedback, reduces human errors, and frees up testers to focus on more complex and exploratory testing. Automation also supports continuous integration and delivery, which are crucial for delivering software products in short cycles. To automate tests effectively, use a test automation framework that supports multiple types of tests, such as unit, integration, system, and regression tests, and that integrates with your development and deployment tools.
Encourage the use of TDD, where developers write tests before writing the actual code. This ensures that tests are an integral part of the development process, and it helps in achieving good code coverage. Implement automated testing, including unit tests, integration tests, and regression tests. Automated tests ensure that new code changes do not introduce regressions. Use CI tools and practices to automatically build, test, and deploy code changes whenever they are committed. This helps in identifying issues early and maintaining test coverage. Conduct regular code reviews to ensure that the code changes have adequate test coverage and meet the defined quality standards (which have to be defined).
Automation of a part built system really doesn’t make sense because tests cannot be automated in a 3 week sprint. Automated regression running 1 sprint behind is an option
Scrum emphasizes collaboration and communication among the cross-functional team members and the product owner. However, collaboration should also extend to other stakeholders, such as end-users, customers, and business analysts, who can provide valuable insights and feedback on the product features and quality. Involving stakeholders in the testing process can ensure that your tests are aligned with the user needs and expectations. It can also allow you to capture any defects or issues early, and deliver a product that meets or exceeds the customer satisfaction.
Scrum is based on the principle of inspecting and adapting the product and the process to deliver value and quality. This principle also applies to the testing activities, which should be reviewed and improved regularly. Utilize various techniques and tools to review and improve your tests, such as code reviews, test reviews, test metrics, test reports, test retrospectives, and test audits.
One of the tool/technique can be used which is called the requirement traceability matrix. It ensures each of the requirement/sub-requirements/exit criteria is mapped to a test case/s which further ensures 100% test coverage to the product or build under test.
Test resources should participate in Show and Tell sessions to ensure they understand the Acceptance Criteria to be able to define a full set of tests.
Using Scrum can create a culture of learning and sharing among the team members and the organization. Learning and sharing are important for improving Scrum test coverage and quality, as they enable you to acquire new skills, adopt effective practices, and leverage the collective wisdom of your peers and experts. Try participating in training, workshops, webinars, podcasts, blogs, forums, communities of practice, and other learning resources and platforms.
I recommend that we start by collaborating with stakeholders to define clear acceptance criteria for user stories and create a comprehensive test plan. It's crucial to prioritize automated testing to catch issues early. We should also encourage Test-Driven Development (TDD) and exploratory testing, and maintain a robust set of regression and performance tests. Gathering user feedback and continuously educating the team on testing best practices is essential. Our sprint review and retrospective meetings are valuable opportunities to collect feedback and improve our testing process. Keep our documentation up-to-date, and always follow agile principles of transparency, inspection, and adaptation for ongoing Scrum success.
One thing I have found helpful is an evolving Functional test suit. Scope of sprint test cases will remain within a sprint, and it will not get updated post the sprint completion. Testers have to maintain a functional test suit which gets updated after every sprint, with the latest addition to the functionality completed in the sprint. This can eventually evolve to be the collection of strong and complete functional testcases for integration testing, system testing, end - end testing and can further aid for user acceptance testing.
Here are some ways to improve scrum test coverage and quality: * Shift Left Testing: Integrate testing throughout the development lifecycle, not just at the end. This can involve techniques like test-driven development (TDD) and continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD). * Focus on High-Risk Areas: Identify areas of the application that are most critical or prone to errors and prioritize writing tests for those areas first.
Actually, "Scrum test coverage" is not a standard or widely recognized term or approach within the Scrum framework or the broader agile and software development community. Scrum itself focuses on project management, collaboration, and iterative development but does not provide specific guidance or terminology related to testing or test coverage, which means test coverage and related testing practices are typically considered part of the broader software development and quality assurance processes, which can be integrated into Scrum or any other agile framework as needed. In a nutshell, it's a bit difficult to define such a thing as "Scrum test coverage" as any type of a general approach
If you have the capacity do not allow the author of the test to be the executioner so that the test scripts can be reviewed and updated or added to if necessary