How do you align your software testing with industry standards?

I believe that we can achieve quality product or project deliverable if and only if we adhere to an efficient and effective process. I try to keep myself in touch with the global quality standards and best practices to understand the underlying mindset and strategy they use to reach their quality benchmark. I tailor the knowledge in the light of my own organizational needs and domain limitations.

Identifying testing standards across the organization is kind of tricky but few of the best practices can be applied. Few of the testing protocols can be followed according to the standards defined at the beginning of each project. For an example in product testing many industries follows some common guidelines so checklist would be helpful to test usability as well as any functionality for particular types products.

When testing it's important to have good knowledge of the clients domain. Asking to what standards they are complying is key. Discuss with product owners where extra focus should be needed, where issues could arise and extra attention is wanted.

Aligning with industry standards requires following tests to be taken up: 1.Analysing the app from layering perspective: Define which layers in exist in the app Define tests for each layer. 2.Analyse the app as black box then define your tests 3.Lastly analyse the app as Business then define your tests. There might be some overlap of tests amongst the three but result will definitely align testing with industry standards.

First of all you should need to enrich yourself with industry standards, learn about ISO, IEEE and CMMI, than you should have to clearly define your objectives that should be aligned with these standard, choose testing tools wisely so that it should be helpful in aligning you with these defined standards, make necessary changes in your followed processes to keep them on track, control and monitor your techniques and processes on daily basis.

Clearly define the testing objectives based on the industry standards. Determine what aspects of the software need to be thoroughly tested, validated, and verified to meet the quality and regulatory requirements. This might include functionality, performance, security, reliability, and more.

Keep in mind the clients expected standards and regulatory standards that may apply to certain software, such as life sciences and patient care for example. We will want to review design screens, flow charts and user stories carefully and we would create test plans with standards for exit criteria such as 90% test case coverage, no high priority bugs left unfixed, testing end date and any particular performance or compatibility requirements that needs to be met. It is also important to mention the use of solid testing techniques to design full decision/branch coverage of user flows for new features and error guessing for regression testing to help us choose existing test cases to include, we will also need to include what not to test.

Modify your testing processes to align with the industry standards. This may involve creating specific testing plans, methodologies, and techniques that address the unique challenges and requirements of the industry. For example, in safety-critical industries like aerospace or healthcare, you might need to emphasize rigorous testing of failure modes and compliance with strict safety regulations. Choose testing tools that support the specific requirements of your industry. Some industries might require specialized testing tools for specific types of testing, such as security testing or performance testing. Make sure the tools you use can generate the necessary reports and documentation to demonstrate compliance.

Foster collaboration between your development, testing, and quality assurance teams to ensure everyone understands and follows the industry standards. Effective communication is crucial for identifying and addressing potential gaps or challenges in the testing process. Regularly assess your testing processes and outcomes to identify areas for improvement. Industry standards are often updated, and your software may evolve over time. Stay up-to-date with changes in regulations and adapt your testing practices accordingly.

Conduct internal audits or seek third-party audits to verify that your testing processes align with industry standards. These audits can help identify any discrepancies and ensure that your software development and testing practices remain in compliance. Establish a feedback loop with customers, users, and stakeholders to gather insights on how well your software aligns with their expectations. This can provide valuable information for refining your testing processes and improving software quality over time. Remember that alignment with industry standards is an ongoing process, and it requires a commitment to quality, compliance, and continuous improvement throughout the software development lifecycle.