As part of the software development process, a strict division of labor is provided. Thus, an architect is engaged in modeling and design, a programmer – in development and implementation, and a QA specialist – in quality assurance. Quality assurance is no less important in the software development process than control. Control allows for finding defects and eliminating them. But it is much more effective to prevent defects than to spend time and money on their elimination. Thus, the development and implementation of preventive measures to prevent defects is the main task of quality assurance.
What Role Does the QA Team Play in Software Development?
The task of the QA specialist is to study the process for optimization in terms of improving the quality of the process, on the one hand, and the product – on the other. That is, the QA engineer is the same tester, only responsible for product quality throughout the development cycle. By following the link https://jatapp.com/services/mobile-app-development-services/ and receiving services from professional application developers, be sure that a large team of experts, including a QA specialist, will work on creating the final product. The QA engineer will check the quality, security, and usability of the software created so that as a result you get the most efficient application. Among the main responsibilities of a QA specialist are the following:
- Studying and clarifying the requirements for the program;
- Writing and further development of test scripts;
- Testing the software functionality;
- Compilation of reports on detected shortcomings in the tracking system. This is a program in which developers, programmers, and testers can make all the found errors and shortcomings, as well as track their implementation;
- Analysis of the results and indicators of the tests carried out;
- Preparation of technical specifications for the elimination of defects found after testing;
- Monitoring and tracking edits;
- Conducting repeated tests for the absence of errors found;
- Analysis and optimization of development stages to eliminate the causes of errors and avoid their recurrence;
- Working with test documentation.
QA specialists make up the QA team. It usually has two main areas of activity:
- Development of processes, which involves continuous activities aimed at finding ways to modernize the process in order to improve the quality of products;
- Software Quality Assurance mainly consists of confirming that product development corresponds to the defined processes.
Useful Tips for Effective Remote QA Management
QA remote work is not unusual today. Many teams work remotely, but they need to be managed effectively. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to organize the work of a QA team effectively and what qualities its members should have. Therefore, we have compiled valuable advice based on the QA testing best practices and management experience. Find valuable tips below and organize QA work from home in the best possible way.
Responsibilities of Each QA Specialist
In order to properly use the capabilities of the team and manage it, it is necessary to clearly distribute the roles in QA. The QA manager remote must take into account the skills of each specialist and understand who is best suited for which position. For example, a specialist with experience in programming languages will be able to develop automated tests for the rest of the team. And his colleague, who is well versed in mobile devices, will test applications for Android and iOS.
The requirements for QA specialists are constantly growing. In the future, such specialists will be able to develop tools, create automated tests, and even write programs. At the moment, there are the following roles for QA engineers who perform different duties in the testing team:
- Software test engineer – responsible for testing the entire system;
- Analyst – defines the test conditions and functions that need to be tested, develops test scripts and documentation;
- Test automation engineer – develops automated testing;
- Test architect – designs complex test infrastructures and defines the necessary tools;
- Test manager – creates a testing strategy, and manages the team testing processes.
Motivation for the QA Team
An important task of a QA manager is to keep each software tester remotely motivated. When a project is just starting and there are many new and exciting challenges, team members are motivated. However, when all major issues are resolved and all that remains is to double-check bug reports, QA specialists may lack motivation. There are five management techniques that can help increase tester engagement and motivation, as well as keep employees happy and productive:
- Encourage knowledge sharing. If employees feel that they are doing unproductive work, motivation drops. In this regard, it is very important to encourage QA team members to share knowledge and motivate each other to constantly grow;
- Recognize achievements. No one likes when he is deprived of attention or his contribution to the common cause is not noticed. So, despite the deadlines that need to be met and the amount of work that needs to be done, you should take the time to praise your employees for their achievements. The recognition of success will not only improve your relationship with team members but also create an atmosphere in which they feel valued and motivated employees.
To make the gesture even more special, you may want to consider gifting employees customized trophies. This will make them appreciate the recognition better as they have a token to remind them of their accomplishment. It will also help them find more motivation to work harder and better. Their days will turn more productive every time they see their trophy and get reminded of their achievement.
- Use failure for learning. When making a mistake, try to ensure that the QA team members can learn from it and avoid similar failures in the future;
- Trust the experts. Nobody likes excessive control. If you strictly control the work of the team, the specialists will feel that you do not believe in their ability to cope with the work. As a result, they may become involved in seeking a better work environment. Therefore, better try to learn to trust people;
- Determine what motivates QA team members. Different people are motivated by different things. Learn more about it. This will help build a system of rewards that will keep everyone inspired.
Regular Evaluation of the QA Team’s Work
You need to evaluate the work of QA specialists who work remotely on a regular basis, at least once a month. This will help ensure that testing is going well and that your team is doing really good work. Look for inefficient processes or unnecessary activities that drive up costs. If necessary, make adjustments both on the part of the customer and the contractor. Regular evaluation of the work of the QA team helps to ensure the quality and correct operation of the final product.
Put all the above tips into practice and manage your QA remote team simply and efficiently!
