Allocation Levels of QA Activities
- Mike Deskis
- Milan Poláček
- Ioana Kocurova
This article discusses the allocation levels of Quality Assurance (QA) activities based on the maturity of the project and provides recommendations for QA analyst involvement. It outlines the tasks and responsibilities of QA analysts at different allocation levels, ranging from full-time allocation for pilot or new projects to minimal allocation for existing projects with small enhancements. The article also highlights the risks associated with each allocation level.
QA Responsibilities
Outlines the tasks and responsibilities of Quality Assurance (QA) analysts at different allocation levels. Here's a breakdown of the terms and activities mentioned:
Functional Testing based on User Stories: This involves testing the functionality of the software based on user stories, which are short, simple descriptions of a feature told from the perspective of the person who desires the new capability.
Documenting Testing in X-Ray: X-Ray is a test management tool that allows for the creation and management of test cases, bug reporting, and reporting of test results.
Retesting Bugs after Bug Fixes: This involves retesting previously identified bugs after they have been fixed to ensure that the fix was successful and did not introduce any new issues.
Regression Testing: This type of testing is performed to make sure that new code changes have not adversely affected existing features.
Smoke Tests after Deployments: Smoke testing is a preliminary level of testing to check basic functionality and ensure that the critical features of a program work.
Checking Risks Connected with Testing: This involves identifying and assessing potential risks associated with the testing process and the solution being tested.
Prepare Test Strategy: This refers to creating a plan that outlines the approach to be used to test the solution.
Functional Demo for the Customer: This involves preparing and presenting a functional demonstration of the software to the customer during feature sprints.
Communication with PM, SA, CE, IE, BA, and the Customer: This involves engaging with project management, solution architects, customer engineers, implementation engineers, business analysts, and the customer to understand user stories and customer needs.
Reviewing Acceptance Criteria: This entails reviewing the conditions that a software product must satisfy to be accepted by a user or customer.
Test Automation in Cypress: Cypress is a test automation tool used for testing web applications. This activity involves automating tests using Cypress.
API Testing in Postman: Postman is a popular tool for testing APIs. This activity involves testing the functionality and performance of APIs using Postman.
Basic Performance Testing: This refers to conducting initial performance tests to assess the speed, responsiveness, and stability of the software under normal conditions.
Helping with UAT Preparation: This involves assisting the customer with User Acceptance Testing (UAT) preparation, which is the final phase of testing in software development before the software is released to the market or to users.
QA Allocation Levels
Allocation level of QA analyst | Project maturity and recommendation | Preparation and Setup | Feature Sprints | UAT |
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Full time allocation (this should correspond to expected 1:2 ratio (1 QA Analyst for 2 CEs on the project)) | Pilot / New projects, full QA support for the customer is expected
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Half time allocation (this should correspond to about 35% - 40% of CE allocation for QA Analyst)
| Pilot / New projects, basic QA support for the customer is expected
Risk: As we don’t expect using X-Ray in this option, it can be difficult to share our test cases with the customer. The customer can get some examples, but he should know our support in this will be limited. |
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12 hours a week (this should correspond to about 25% of CE allocation for QA Analyst) | Smaller project, QA Analyst will support internal Pfx team only, NO SUPPORT FOR THE CUSTOMER
Risk: if the customer maturity in testing is low, without QA Analyst support it can lead to not prepared UAT tests, misunderstandings reported as bugs and project delay. |
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8 hours a week (this should correspond to about 20% of CE allocation for QA Analyst) | Smaller project, QA Analyst will support internal Pfx team only, NO SUPPORT FOR THE CUSTOMER
Risk: if the customer maturity in testing is low, without QA Analyst support it can lead to not prepared UAT tests, misunderstandings reported as bugs and project delay. |
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4 hours a week - note this can be used just for next stage of existing project when QA Analyst was on the previous stage and therefore knows the project and the customer. DON’T USE THIS ALLOCATION FOR A NEW PROJECT! | Existing customer, ongoing project, small enhancements, no support to the customer Risk: For a new customer this option has no sense, it means NO QA Analyst on the project with all consequences as here there will be no QA support for the customer and for our internal Pfx team |
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