| Software quality assurance (or SQA, as some IT pros | | | | long-term specialized training. If a developer is engaged |
| often acronymize it) refers to the process by which | | | | in training with testing tools, who is going to do the |
| software defects present in newly developed | | | | actual coding? Also, as bugs are being found, the |
| software programs are identified and fixed. If you | | | | developers would have to start focusing back on their |
| develop software or are in the process of custom | | | | core activities which is development. This could |
| software applications then it critical to address the | | | | eventually slow down the overall development |
| quality needs that would arise to meet all your | | | | process and result in 'cutting corners' to meet the |
| business objectives. To ensure the quality that is | | | | delivery deadlines. |
| desired, it is necessary to have a QA team or group | | | | Is outsourcing a good option? |
| that is tasked with that job. However a lot of times | | | | Outsourcing of some of the testing activities or in |
| allocated a large pools of resources to the testing or | | | | some cases outsourcing of the complete testing |
| QA function seems to be in-effective as the | | | | function is gaining popularity amongst most IT |
| resources cannot be effectively utilized throughout the | | | | companies. Data suggests that in the long run |
| development cycle. There are phases where the | | | | outsourcing can not only help save significance costs |
| resource requirements could be quite large while | | | | associated with managing quality but also allows |
| sometimes the need may not be as much. Hiring and | | | | organizations to go to market faster with their |
| keeping a large team of testers on staff could be cost | | | | products. There are a lot of testing services vendors |
| prohibitive due to the fluctuating testing needs. | | | | that cover a wide spectrum of offerings ranging from |
| Can't developers be asked to test the software | | | | manual testing to process implementation to tools |
| themselves? | | | | expertise. |
| Often companies wonder whether software quality | | | | However, due to the abundance of QA firms out |
| assurance personnel are really required for ensuring | | | | there, it is imperative for every company to evaluate |
| quality. Why not have the developers test the | | | | each potential vendor and ensure that they truly have |
| applications. After all, developers are the most qualified | | | | the right expertise and the credentials. Verify the |
| to know the internals of the application. Wouldn't they | | | | references and look at the testing tools implementation |
| be the people most suited for carrying out the | | | | track records of each. You may want to ensure that |
| bug-hunt? | | | | the potential vendor has an internal training program to |
| To some extent, quality can be instilled in the | | | | train and certify manual testers on today's |
| development process. The developers can follow best | | | | sophisticated testing tools. Check if they have testing |
| practices during unit testing to ensure that most of the | | | | tools certified consultants on staff. |
| code gets tested up front. However, once all the | | | | A good example of a reputed company has the |
| various components developed by different | | | | breadth and depth in testing expertise would be |
| developers start coming together it is fair to expect | | | | Advanced QA. This Texas-based company is a HP |
| some functional defects to be uncovered. That could | | | | partner that not only provides manual testing expertise |
| be either due to poor design, unclear requirements or | | | | but provides tools experts that are certified in products |
| due to configuration or flows that may be impacting | | | | like Loadrunner, QTP and Quality Center. They have a |
| the finished product. To test these 'integrated' pieces | | | | solid track record of providing top notch consulting |
| thoroughly, there is not only application knowledge | | | | services across various industries. They are mentioned |
| required but a thorough knowledge of testing | | | | favorably in several QA/Testing forums. It may be |
| methodologies and tools is also required. Getting up to | | | | worthwhile to get in touch with them and check if they |
| speed on the software testing methodologies and | | | | are a good fit for your needs. |
| being able to use today powerful testing tools requires | | | | |