Informal vs. Formal Peer Reviews

Peer reviews can vary greatly in their level of formality. At the most informal end of the peer review spectrum, a software practitioner can ask a colleague to, “Please take a look at this for me.” These types of informal peer reviews are performed all of the time. It is just good practice to get a second pair of eyes on a work product when the practitioner is having problems or needs a second opinion. As illustrated in the figure above, these informal reviews are done ad hoc with no formal process, no preparation, and no quality records or metrics. Defects are usually reported either verbally or as redlined mark-ups on a draft copy of the work product. Any rework that results from these informal peer reviews is up to the author’s discretion.

On the opposite side of the spectrum is the formal peer review. In formal peer reviews, a rigorous process is documented, followed, and continuously improved with feedback from peer reviews as they are being conducted. Preparation before the peer review meeting is emphasized. Peer review participants have well-defined roles and responsibilities to fulfill during the review. Defects are formally recorded and that list of defects and a formal peer review report become quality records for the review. The author is responsible for the rework required to correct the reporting defects and that rework is formally verified by either re-reviewing the work product or through checking done by another member of the peer review team (for example, the inspection moderator). Metrics are collected and used as part of the peer review process. Metrics are also used to analyze multiple reviews over time as a mechanism for process improvement and defect prevention.

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Upcoming webinars from the Software Excellence Academy - sponsored by the ASQ Software Division:

December 2023:

• December 6, 2023 – Equivalence Class Testing for Black-Box Testers presented by Linda Westfall
• December 13, 2023 – Army Software Suitability Statement Criteria for AI presented by Adam Hilburn
• December 20, 2023 – Software Assurance (SwA) from the Lens of the Contract presented by Sabrina Patten
• December 27, 2023 – Happy Holidays! No webinar is scheduled for this date

For more information about our webinars or to register for one or more of these webinars click here .

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The following webinar recordings are currently available for free on our website:

• Building Trust, Communications, and Respect at Work: Enhance Your Multi-Generational Culture presented by Zac Jarrard and Douglas C. Woods
• CSQE Body of Knowledge - What's Changed presented by Linda Westfall
• True Shift Left Is Not Mere Marginally Earlier Test Execution presented by Robin Goldsmith
• The Building Blocks of Organizational Culture presented by Grace Duffy
• How Fairly Do You Measure Testing and Testers? presented by Robin Goldsmith
• Hidden Reasons You Overrun Budget and Schedule Estimates presented by Robin Goldsmith
• Number One Priority in Successful Change Projects presented by Judy Alter
• Appraisals & Audits -- Adding Criteria Such as ISO and CMMI — How to Make Stuff Useful for Any Company presented by Neil Potter

To watch these webinars click here and scroll down to the recordings.

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