What are the best ways to report test results in Agile?

To report test results in Agile, it's essential to create a test summary report that provides a consolidated view of overall testing activities performed in the cycle. This report should have a clear and concise specification, follow a standard template, and provide detailed information about testing activities where necessary. It's ideal to create this report at the end of testing cycles, including details about regression tests. The report should cover information such as test environment details, types of software testing performed, and test results.

Testing should drive the development instead of just analyzing the results of development. Test driven development introduces an important inversion of when testing is positioned in the development lifecycle. Because testing drives the development it is impossible to plan, implement and execute tests without the involvement of many more team members than just the testers. Tests are the closest thing we can have to a translation language between business requirements and technical implementation details. This implies that testers work between the business stakeholders, customers, users, and developers - not aside from them.

Reporting test results is an important task to ensure the product quality. Automate the test results saves the time. Test results should be highlighted with findings, and failed at which step should be clearly accessible to all the team members. Each Test result should be tagged to functionality story and classified based on severity and complexity for helping the development team to prioritize. Regular review meetings with development team, product owner about test results and obtain feedback for next steps. Test results execution should be clearly estimated for proper planning. Publish the test results, progress, defects found and remaining work. Reviewing and analyzing past reports for continuous improvements.

In order for testing to drive the development, teams cannot forget Business Architecture and Application Architecture work. It's here that use cases and testing plans are created and documented which the development team uses to drive the creation of the software. With agile's focus on code, this work is often overlooked even though it is vital for the team's success.

Agile test reporting is more than just documenting defects; it's about an all-inclusive approach to ensure software quality. By involving the entire team, including developers & product owners, we promote a sense of shared ownership of quality. Highlighting the benefits of testing for the customer, such as improved user experience & reliability, reinforces the importance of testing in Agile. Instead of focusing solely on test cases, showcasing working software features in reports helps stakeholders understand progress & value. This adaptability ensures that as priorities shift in fast-paced Agile projects, the reporting process remains flexible & aligned with the evolving needs of the project, promoting efficient & effective communication.

Dashboards & charts provide a quick view of testing status & trends. Eg., a burndown chart visually tracks the completion of test cases over time. Automation tools, integrated into CI/CD pipelines, generate detailed reports with screenshots, logs,& metrics. These reports offer a comprehensive view of software's behavior. Collaboration tools like shared documents & boards enable real-time updates & discussions among the whole team. They foster transparency & facilitate immediate actions to test results. Feedback tools, like surveys or user feedback collection mechanisms, capture valuable insights from testing sessions or live deployments. This user-centric feedback aids in refining software further, enhancing its quality & user satisfaction.

The second principle emphasizes the importance of using clear and interactive tools for presenting test results effectively. Think of using informative dashboards, charts, and automated reports that contain images and data to quickly identify issues. Collaboration tools enable real-time communication among team members and stakeholders, promoting transparency and facilitating discussions. For example, a project management dashboard can visually display testing progress, helping the team and stakeholders understand the status easily and make informed decisions, ultimately enhancing efficiency and clarity in the corporate environment.

The best format of presenting test results is working software as there is no working software without passing tests. If tests are not passing the software is not working. Because tests are driving the development it is crucial that your tests can be completed quickly and reliably - otherwise your team will look for ways and accuses to avoid running your tests and you won’t know if the software you produce is actually working.

Mentioning the use of dashboards and charts to depict the status, progress, and trends of testing activities is a strong point. These visual representations can provide a quick overview of the testing landscape, helping teams to identify areas of focus and track progress over time.

Utilize Agile project management tools like Jira, Trello, or Azure DevOps to log and track test results. These tools often offer integrated reporting features that can simplify the process.

Tailoring test reporting is very important aspect. Developers & testers benefit from detailed, technical reports with code-level insights. Product owners may need a balance between technical & business-oriented information. For managers, executives, & customers, concise, business-focused reports are ideal. They want to understand how testing impacts project goals & outcomes. Timely & relevant reports are crucial during sprint reviews, retrospectives, & release planning. They provide the necessary data for informed decisions, ensuring effective collaboration & continuous improvement in Agile projects.

The tests results are the source of information only for the developers who work on creating the working software. For anyone else the artifact of successful testing is the working software. It doesn’t matter how many tests were green in your CI pipeline or how much coverage you have for your users, whether the software is working does.

The third principle is about making reports that fit the audience and situation. Different people want different kinds of reports — some want detailed ones, and others prefer shorter, business-focused ones. Also, it's important to provide reports when they're needed, like during project reviews or planning. This way, everyone gets the right information at the right time, which is vital in the corporate world to make decisions that make sense for the situation.

The test pyramid is like a testing strategy guideline for Agile projects. It's not just about the types of tests but also about how to report results effectively. For example: -When presenting test results to developers, focus more on unit test outcomes, providing them with detailed insights into component functionality. -For product owners & managers, emphasize higher-level integration & end-to-end tests that demonstrate the software's holistic behavior & usability. Aligning test reporting with the test pyramid ensures that different stakeholders receive the level of detail & coverage that matters most to their roles & responsibilities. It's about tailoring the reporting to cater to the specific needs & expectations of everyone.

The fourth principle says to use the "test pyramid" in Agile testing, like a pyramid with three parts: First, there are lots of unit tests at the bottom, checking small pieces. Next, there are fewer integration tests in the middle, looking at how pieces fit together. At the very top, there are only a few end-to-end tests checking everything. By doing this, you can report test results that match how sure and detailed each type of test is, making your testing strategy strong and smart.

Important distinction from why you might typically read about the “testing pyramid” is that the size of layers does not reflect the number of tests, it reflects the level of detail you’re focusing on. Unit tests will know the most about the implementation details of your software. End-to-end testing will assume very little about the implementation details. If you switch a data structure in your implementation there is a high chance that your unit tests will fail, your end-end test should be more resilient to such changes (if they’re not it might be a symptom of improper - or leaky - architecture).

In an Agile development, built-in quality is a must. This can be assured by continuous integration and continuous delivery. Most of the automated tests shall be run at each en every pull request. Integration and thus testing should happen multiple times a day, as a successful test cycle is a prerequisite for integration. Since testing is a core part of the development process, and the number of tests is typically continuously growing, metrics for the quality of tests should also play an important role (coverage, flakiness, test execution time etc.) and should be followed and continuously improved.

Continuous improvement is not just about stating results but about embracing change & learning. Highlighting accomplishments acknowledges the team's efforts & boosts morale. Discussing difficulties encourages transparency, inculcating a culture of problem-solving & innovation. Identifying gaps & suggesting solutions ensures testing evolves alongside the product. Measuring & monitoring the impact & value of testing, perhaps through metrics like bug reduction or faster delivery, informs future testing strategies & goals, promoting efficiency & effectiveness. Agile test reporting is a dynamic process of growth & adaptation.

In Agile test reporting, use SAFe principles like DevOps and Continuous Delivery Pipeline for automated, visible outcomes. Include test metrics in dashboards for PI planning and I&A sessions, keeping stakeholders informed. Implement continuous improvement: highlight both "what" and "why" behind test outcomes. Use KPIs to align testing with business goals. Make sure the reports reveal gaps and suggest actionable solutions, tied to broader objectives. Aim for concise, outcome-focused reports, contributing to Lean-Agile principles and a culture of shared responsibility.

Reporting test results in Agile is a delicate balance. It's about conveying the right information effectively. By adhering to Agile values, using suitable tools, tailoring reports, following the test pyramid, & embracing continuous improvement, we achieve collaboration & transparency without sacrificing quality. This balanced approach ensures stakeholders stay informed without getting bogged down in details. Agile test reporting becomes a powerful tool for enhancing the overall quality of the testing process, promoting efficiency, & ultimately delivering better software.

In Agile, concise and effective test result reporting is crucial. Utilize visual dashboards showing metrics like test coverage, pass/fail rates, and defect trends. Use burndown charts to track testing progress. Provide detailed test summaries highlighting critical issues and their impact on sprint goals. Foster open communication in daily stand-ups and sprint reviews. Collaborate with stakeholders to prioritize and address issues promptly, ensuring continuous improvement.

Overall, this topic provides a comprehensive view on Agile testing and underscores its importance in fostering collaboration, transparency, and quality.

The point of tests (particularly in an agile context) is not to generate reports and pretty graphs. That implies an iteration weighed down by defects. If automated tests are used (and in a CI/CD context, they must be), developers should ensure they all pass before anything is considered as Done. If more specialised tests are being conducted by a testing expert, they should verbally communicate test failures to developers on the team: there is no need to spend time on a test report if it is going to be imminently fixed. Only in the rare scenario of a defect not being fixed in the iteration timebox should a defect report be produced. Graphs are of limited use because the only thing of value is working software. (Working implies no defects!)

Best ways to report test results in agile: 1. Use clear and concise formats. 2. Provide a summary of test coverage and results. 3. Include detailed bug reports with steps to reproduce. 4. Highlight critical issues impacting functionality. 5. Use visual aids like charts and graphs for clarity. 6. Share results regularly in sprint reviews. 7. Collaborate with developers to resolve issues. 8. Maintain transparency and open communication. 9. Use collaborative tools (e.g., Jira) for tracking. 10. Focus on actionable insights for the team.

Put stickers on each other's desks. Just kidding. Use Atlassian, Jira for God's sake, it's enough. You can use it for bug reports, product boards, filters, tracking, priority, stats and so on and so forth. If you need more, use google docs and Confluence. BTW, you can use just google sheets instead of Jira. There is nothing special in Agile in terms of reporting test results except that you have to do it in a flexible and agile manner and environment

I could strive to report test results early and often. How can we manage it best way?We can manage it with traceability. The most important point in terms of traceability is to create visual control panels or tools for relevant stakeholders and managers. And also we should include testing updates in our daily standup and sprint review meetings for our scrum teams. Let's also make sure our Definition of Done includes test enter and exit criteria. Collaborate with our cross-functional team and bring up test-related topics during retrospectives for continuous improvement. In conclusion we should prioritize clear and relevant information sharing while avoiding unnecessary documentation, staying in line with Agile principles.

Consider this example (adapting test reporting to the specific needs): Issue:- In an Agile project for a software startup, the team had a challenge with test reporting. They initially provided highly technical reports filled with detailed test data to impress stakeholders. However, they noticed that the reports were overwhelming & didn't align with non-technical stakeholders. Approach to Solution:- To improve, they adopted a more balanced approach. They created concise, visual reports that showcased high-level test progress, highlighting the value-added through testing. These reports were well-received by managers & product owners, fostering better collaboration & understanding among the team.