Are Your Engineers Testing? Think Again.

What if we told you it might be time to break with tradition and stop assigning testing tasks to your engineers? In this article, we're getting into the 'why' behind this choice and exploring how it can perk up your QA efforts.

Why should my engineers not serve as QA?

The main reason your engineers shouldn’t double up as your QA team is the potential conflict of focus. While engineers are great at creating products, QA tasks need a different mindset – one that focuses on finding  potential issues and ensuring product quality. Giving both responsibilities to engineers can divide their attention and affect the quality of both tasks.

Moreover, having a dedicated QA team brings a fresh perspective and a more comprehensive approach to testing. It brings in a diversity of skills, ideas, and insights that can uncover vulnerabilities engineers might miss. This collaborative dynamic often results in more well-rounded testing and improved product quality.

Let’s explore further through four specific reasons: 

1. Expertise

Engineers, while highly skilled in coding and development, may not have the same expertise in testing methodologies as dedicated QA professionals. While they handle basic functional testing, they might lack the in-depth knowledge and experience required for comprehensive testing. 

A QA team, on the other hand, is well-versed in various testing techniques, such as regression testing, load testing, and usability testing. They bring a broader range of testing skills to the table. They are trained to uncover subtle issues that engineers might overlook. This specialized knowledge is especially useful in industries with strict quality standards, like healthcare or finance, where rigorous testing is essential for compliance and user safety.

2. Objectivity

Engineers working closely with a project often develop a deep familiarity with the codebase and may inadvertently approach testing with certain biases or assumptions about how the software should function. On the other hand, a dedicated QA tester approaches the software with a fresh perspective.

Consider a mobile app in which an engineer has been instrumental in designing and developing a particular feature. The clarity they have in how the feature is meant to be used might lead them to believe that users will intuitively know how to use it. 

However, a QA tester with no prior involvement in the feature may identify issues related to user interface inconsistencies or unexpected behavior. They might find that certain user interactions are confusing or that the feature behaves differently on different devices. QA testers provide valuable insights that engineers could easily miss because of blind spots. This objectivity goes a long way in delivering a seamless user experience.

3. Time Allocation

In many software development projects, time is a precious resource. Engineers are primarily responsible for designing, coding, and maintaining software. When they are also burdened with extensive testing responsibilities, it can lead to time pressures that impact the quality of testing. 

Picture a scenario where an engineer is tasked with both coding and testing a complex feature within a tight go-to-market deadline. The deadline pressure may lead to hurried testing, leaving room for critical issues to slip through. 

A dedicated QA team that prioritizes testing, allocates ample time for it, and conducts systematic testing can help ensure high software quality. They focus on extensive test case coverage, identifying edge cases, and simulating real-world scenarios. This approach increases software robustness and reliability, ultimately reducing the risk of post-release issues and customer dissatisfaction.

4. Cost-Effectiveness

Having engineers handle both coding and testing may seem cost-effective initially, but can lead to inefficiencies and hidden expenses in the long run. Engineers are typically hired and compensated for their expertise in software development. Testing is an extension of their skillset, rather than a competency they are already trained in. Allocating their time to testing tasks can be less cost-efficient. For instance, if a senior software engineer spends a significant portion of their workday on testing, it could be considered an inefficient use of their high-value skills and a potential waste of company resources.

Dedicated QA professionals are specifically trained and hired for testing roles. They are often more cost-effective in terms of hourly rates compared to software engineers. If QA teams are focused on testing tasks, engineers can do what they do best – designing and coding software. They can dedicate more time to creating innovative solutions and addressing complex technical challenges. This allocation of resources not only optimizes costs but improves overall productivity. 

Further, QA teams are experienced in specialized testing tools and methodologies, which enhances efficiency and reduces the long-term cost of identifying and fixing defects in the software. Ultimately, the cost-effectiveness of using dedicated QA teams contributes to the overall economic viability and success of a software development project.

Tips to Develop Your Own QA Team

Building an effective QA team is essential for ensuring high-quality products and efficient development processes. Here are some key tips to keep in mind:

1. Strategy
   ‍To develop your own QA team, start by defining your QA strategy. Determine your quality goals and what you consider to be the key quality criteria for your product or service. This may involve specifying performance benchmarks, security standards, functionality requirements, or other relevant criteria.

2. Roles & Responsibilities
   ‍Identify the roles and responsibilities within your QA team. Consider roles such as QA Engineers, QA Analysts, Testers, and QA Managers. Each role comes with specific responsibilities, such as designing test cases, analyzing requirements, executing tests, managing the QA process, and communicating with stakeholders.

3. Recruitment
   The right recruitment and hiring approach is key to building your QA team. Seek candidates who have relevant skills and experience in QA and testing. During the hiring process, conduct thorough interviews and assessments to evaluate their qualifications. Look for qualities such as attention to detail, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. It's essential to hire team members who align with your company's culture and values.

4. Training
   ‍Invest in training and skill development programs for your QA team. These programs can include courses on testing methodologies, test automation, and the use of QA tools. Encourage team members to pursue certifications, such as ISTQB, to enhance their expertise and stay up-to-date with industry standards.

5. Tools
   ‍Ensure your QA team has access to the necessary tools, hardware, and software environments to conduct tests effectively. Create and maintain testing environments that closely replicate real-world conditions to uncover potential issues. Invest in QA tools and technologies that can streamline testing processes and defect management. Popular options include Selenium for automated testing, JIRA for issue tracking, and TestRail for test case management.

6. Processes
   ‍Develop standardized QA processes and procedures that your team follows consistently. Define how testing is done, when it's done, and by whom. Specify coding and testing standards to maintain uniformity across projects. 

7. Communication & Collaboration
   ‍Promote open communication within the QA team and encourage collaboration between QA and development teams. Collaboration and knowledge sharing can lead to a better understanding of project requirements and potential quality issues.

8. Performance Metrics
   ‍Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to gauge the effectiveness of your QA efforts. Regularly monitor and report on QA performance to identify areas that need improvement.

9. Continuous Improvement
   ‍Create the conditions for continuous improvement within your QA team. Encourage team members to suggest process enhancements and conduct regular retrospectives to review past projects and identify areas for improvement. Implement changes based on these insights.

10. Adaptability
    ‍Be prepared to scale your QA team as your organization grows or as project demands change. Adapt your QA strategy to accommodate evolving requirements and technologies.

11. Culture of Quality
    ‍Finally, foster a culture of quality throughout your organization. Emphasize the importance of QA in delivering high-quality products or services to both internal and external stakeholders. Quality should be a shared responsibility and a core value of your organization.

In-House or Outsourced QA team?

Now that you know the requirements to build a strong QA team, let's talk about outsourcing QA services. Outsourcing brings benefits like cost-efficiency, scalability, and access to expertise. However, it also has considerations and potential challenges. Here we compare and contrast both approaches so that you can get a better sense of what would work for your organization: 

In-House QA Team:

Pros:

• Control and Integration: With an in-house team, you have direct control over the QA process, allowing for seamless integration with your development teams and product development workflow.
• Dedication: In-house teams are typically more dedicated to your company's goals and culture, leading to a deeper understanding of your products and services.
• Communication: Communication is often easier when the team is within the same organization, facilitating real-time collaboration and issue resolution.

Cons:

• Higher Costs: Running an in-house team can be more expensive due to salaries, benefits, training, and infrastructure costs.
• Resource Management: You may need to manage recruitment, training, and resource allocation, which can be time-consuming.
• Limited Scalability: It can be challenging to quickly scale up or down your team based on project demands.

Outsourced QA Team:

Pros:

• Cost Efficiency: Outsourcing can be cost-effective, as you can often find QA expertise at a lower cost in regions with lower labor expenses.
• Scalability: Outsourcing allows you to easily scale your QA team up or down based on project requirements.
• Specialized Expertise: You can tap into specialized QA skills and experience from outsourcing providers who focus solely on testing and QA.

Cons:

• Less Control: You may have less control over the QA process, which can lead to challenges in communication, alignment with your goals, and quality assurance standards.
• Cultural Differences: Differences in time zones, language, and work culture can sometimes create challenges in collaboration and understanding.
• Data Security Concerns: Depending on the nature of your product or service, you may have concerns about data security when outsourcing.

Conclusion

The distribution of roles within your QA team can significantly impact the quality of your products and services. Engineers are the experts in creating and developing, and it's important to recognize the benefits of having a dedicated QA team. This separation of responsibilities offers a fresh perspective, enhances expertise, ensures objectivity, and optimizes resource allocation, ultimately leading to better quality outcomes.

The decision to establish an in-house QA team or outsource QA services is a strategic one and should be approached as such. In-house teams provide control and integration but come with higher costs and resource management challenges. On the other hand, outsourcing offers cost efficiency, scalability, and specialized expertise but may involve less control and potential cultural differences. Choosing between these options should align with your organization's specific needs, goals, and budget considerations.

Regardless of the approach chosen, setting up a QA team is an essential step in increasing product quality and ensuring customer satisfaction. Establishing clear processes, best practices, and detailed documentation are key to successful implementation. Additionally, using modern QA tools helps automate repetitive tasks and streamlines workflows for more efficient operations. With the right structures in place, your organization can achieve greatly improved quality assurance results. So, take the time to lay a solid foundation for quality assurance, and watch your organization excel in delivering top-notch products and services.