Understanding the Role of Unplanned Test Cases in QA Metrics

Understanding the Role of Unplanned Test Cases in QA Metrics

16 July 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment QA

In the realm of software quality assurance, the debate often arises about whether unplanned test cases should impact QA metrics. This article aims to shed light on this topic, providing insights on the nuances of planned versus unplanned testing and how to handle them effectively within an organization.

The Context of Unplanned Test Cases

During the software development lifecycle, it is common practice for the development team and QA to collaborate and outline a set of expected tests. These typically include “happy path” tests and some exploratory/error handling scenarios. However, during the actual testing phase, QA frequently uncovers bugs that were not anticipated during the planning stage. This leads to the question: Should QA be held accountable for bugs found through unplanned methods?

Key Considerations

To address this question, several key points need to be considered:

  • Avoiding the Blame Game: Assigning blame for finding unplanned bugs can lead to negative consequences. Instead, focus on identifying causal factors and improving the process.
  • Human Error: Testers are human and cannot foresee every possible scenario during the planning phase. It’s unrealistic to expect complete foresight.
  • Importance of Exploratory Testing: Exploratory testing is crucial for uncovering defects that planned tests might miss. It plays a vital role in ensuring software quality.
  • Metrics and Measurement: Metrics should focus on what truly matters. Counting unplanned bugs can be counterproductive if it discourages thorough testing.

Practical Approaches

Here are some practical approaches to handle unplanned test cases effectively:

1. Embrace Exploratory Testing

Recognize the value of exploratory testing. It helps identify issues that are not covered by planned tests. Encourage your QA team to actively engage in exploratory testing and document any new test cases that arise.

2. Improve Initial Planning

While it is impossible to foresee every scenario, improving the initial planning can reduce the number of unplanned bugs. Consider incorporating techniques such as boundary value analysis, equivalence partitioning, and state management during the planning phase.

3. Foster a Collaborative Environment

Encourage collaboration between developers, business analysts, and QA during the planning phase. This collective effort can help identify more test scenarios upfront.

4. Use Heuristics

Utilize heuristics like Michael Bolton’s FEW HICCUPPS to guide test case creation. This heuristic covers aspects such as familiarity, explainability, and user desires, which can help uncover additional test scenarios.

5. Automate Where Possible

Automating repetitive and straightforward test cases allows QA to focus on more complex and exploratory testing. This approach ensures a balanced testing strategy.

Conclusion

Unplanned test cases are an inevitable part of the software testing process. Rather than viewing them as a failure of planning, they should be seen as an opportunity to improve product quality. By fostering a collaborative environment, improving initial planning, and embracing exploratory testing, organizations can handle unplanned test cases more effectively.

Enhancing QA with Repeato

For organizations looking to streamline their testing processes, tools like Repeato can be invaluable. Repeato is a no-code test automation tool for iOS and Android that allows you to create, run, and maintain automated tests quickly and efficiently. By leveraging computer vision and AI, Repeato simplifies the setup and execution of tests, enabling QA teams to focus more on exploratory testing and less on repetitive tasks. This makes it an excellent choice for enhancing your quality assurance efforts.

For more information on how Repeato can help improve your testing processes, visit our blog or contact us.

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