Agile Testers Roles and Responsibilities

Quality Assurance (QA) Team’s job in Agile Software Development environment is more challenging because there is no software requirement specifications (SRS) for testing team to verify development release and the team often has a user story and some acceptance criteria in which any good tester can quickly poke holes.

Development team always says that they will fix these minor issues in next iteration or the fact is that build can be changed after showing it to customer. Then Testing Team or Testers usually say “Well, then there's no point in testing now if the code changes, I'll just need to re-test all this stuff anyway. Call me when things stop changing.” But it doesn’t solve the problem.

So what are the roles and responsibilities of a tester / QA Team in Agile software development environment?

Deliver Quality Product: Being a tester in an agile development environment is about improving the quality of the product before it's complete. It also means becoming an integrated and important part of the development team. They help ensure the software-each little bit that's complete-is verified before its users validate it. Testers are involved early to help describe acceptance criteria before the product is written. Their experience is valuable to finding issues that likely will cause issues with customers.

Provide Early Feedback: Provide feedback early, often, and on anything. It will save the cost of changing major things at the end of the project.

Add Value to the Business: Add value throughout the whole life-cycle, by starting early and testing the design until the code is implemented. Assist Design in identifying alternate scenarios and business rules and assist in refining requirements. Contribute in helping to solve the business problem.


I think tester role is all about providing feedback on analysis, requirements, design and implementation as early as possible. What do you think? please tell me in comments.

43 comments:

  1. I definitely agree with you. In several teams now, I've implemented the Tester role as Test *Analyst* and combined BA and QA into one role... See here for more info:

    http://www.agile-software-development.com/2008/06/putting-analyst-into-software-testing.html

    Kelly Waters
    All About Agile

    ReplyDelete
  2. I suppose that some of the key attributes can be summarised as:-

    Humility - accept feedback
    Able to compromise / support team decisions
    Able to reflect back on events and provide insights (critical for retrospectives)
    Always looking to improve
    Think about things rather than blinding moving forward…..
    Pragmatic - Knows what “just” enough is, Do what it takes
    Adaptive / Flexible - Change direction as required
    Takes initiative / self motivated
    Willing to try new things (may be evident by a desire for continuous learning)
    Can figure out the most important thing to do next. Doesn’t need to be told what to do.
    Risk tolerant – able to make a decision and act based on the information known
    Able to work in fast pace / intense
    Willing to work in a team room – little privacy, very noisy, no prestige
    Can challenge ideas in a respectful manner
    Work incrementally - Willing to revisit work
    Accepting that the big picture will evolve over time

    ReplyDelete
  3. The primary challenge of project management is to achieve all of the project goals and objectives while honoring the preconceived project constraints. Typical constraints are scope, time, and budget. The secondary—and more ambitious—challenge is to optimize the allocation and integration of inputs necessary to meet pre-defined objectives.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Agile Project Management Training is an effective way learn to lead Agile projects and deliver what your customers want faster and better than ever before! So if you are looking for agile training for your team members then choose leadership transformation program to improve your company performance.

      Delete
  4. all developers work closely together so they can communicate informally rather than spending time documenting designs and decisions.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Easier said than done! Managing any project requires certain skills most of the people lack

    ReplyDelete
  6. I agree testing in agile environment can be very challenging and kind of enforce “no offshore” policy to the project.

    The way I usually approach it is by splitting the workload into two baskets: manual testing and automation.

    All new features has to be tested manually but stable code which doesn’t change (have been implemented 2 or more iterations ago) can be automated.

    This gives enough time for testing new features and discussing requirements.

    Just my 2 cents

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi All,
    Can anybody suggest me to my problem..
    We have weekly builds with some cumulative functionalities added...
    Is it possible to write test cases for the Requirements...I think NO because of time constarint.
    Wt can i do now?

    ReplyDelete
  8. This is the same situation we are in at the moment.There are two different projects that are continously running and its all adhoc testing that we are doing at the moment. How can a project or a product go out only based on the thoughts of a tester or only on adhoc testing.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Management is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives.

    Php Developer India

    ReplyDelete
  10. My cousin recommended this blog and she was totally right keep up the fantastic work!






    Project Management Certification

    ReplyDelete
  11. Piyush Group is
    today one of the leading real estate developers of the country.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Make a list of your nutrition chart involving juice and fruits at
    the top followed by green vegetables and milk products.

    It will help the prospective health and fitness aspirant keep pace with the ever evolving world
    of fitness. Get your heart rate up with a quick burst of fast movement.


    My homepage fitness tips and workouts
    Also see my page > fitness tips articles

    ReplyDelete
  13. One can find plenty of funny pictures and videos by a single click on any search engine like
    Yahoo or Google. That is why we have dedicated this page to
    help you renew your spirit and perhaps have a few laughs too.
    Make your Myspace profile look cool and leave your friends Funny Myspace Comments
    and Glitter Graphics.

    Also visit my homepage funny pictures about work

    ReplyDelete
  14. You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I
    find this matter to be actually something which I
    think I would never understand. It seems too complicated
    and very broad for me. I'm looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

    my webpage visit link

    ReplyDelete
  15. You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something which I think I would never understand.

    It seems too complicated and very broad for me.

    I'm looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!

    my web blog :: visit link

    ReplyDelete
  16. The Updated funny celebrity gossips mostly consists of on the scandals of famous or popular celebrities like James waltz dating
    with David Arquette. Regardless, to locate quality photos like
    this try the following. Some programs allow a user to make the
    same post on multiple websites simultaneously.


    Also visit my site :: lol pictures

    ReplyDelete
  17. Thus, there are many broad options for getting to know various kinds of news today and that
    too through the use of various mediums. Office goers and people who
    are travelling often do not get time to read news from the newspaper or watch
    it to get good information they could subscribe for sports SMS alerts.
    Thus they can choose from the many available sources.


    My weblog; Latest Daily News

    ReplyDelete
  18. I pay а vіsit evеry day а fеω blogs аnd
    blogs to reаԁ cоntеnt, but thіѕ ωeblog presents quаlity based сontent.


    Herе is my blog school counselors salary ny

    ReplyDelete
  19. What's up to every body, itís my first pay a quick visit of this blog; this webpage includes remarkable and actually fine material in favor of visitors.

    Feel free to surf to my web site ... http://fitnesstipsonly.edublogs.org/2012/03/01/straightforward-tips-to-keep-your-physical-exercises-working-for-you/

    ReplyDelete
  20. Wow, awesome blog layout! How lengthy have you ever been blogging
    for? you make running a blog glance easy. The whole look of your web site is great,
    let alone the content!

    Also visit my blog post ... Skip Navigation

    ReplyDelete
  21. Investments involve lots of trust factoг bеtween youг advisory
    personnel anԁ аlso the investors, it really
    is thus recommended to perform a systemаtic сheck
    from the companies before fіnalizing them. Ϲredіt cards
    don’t offer this type of repаyment flexibilitу, regaгԁlеsѕ
    of your employment, іncomе, or finаnсial situation.
    Be worгieԁ about prеdictions in thе future, evеn shoulԁ уouг advisor's name is Nostradamus.

    Visit my web site :: ny life Financial advisor Salary

    ReplyDelete
  22. Its likе you rеaԁ my mіnԁ!

    You seem to know sο muсh about this, like
    you ωrote thе booκ in it or something. I thinκ
    that уou coulԁ dο with a few pіcѕ to
    drive thе mesѕage homе а bit, but othег than that,
    thіs is fantastic blog. A fantaѕtic reаd.
    I'll definitely be back.

    My blog; salary range for pediatric nurse

    ReplyDelete
  23. Greetings from Idaho! I'm bored to death at work so I decided to browse your blog on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the knowledge you provide here and can't wait to
    take a look when I get home. I'm shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I'm
    not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, wonderful blog!

    Review my homepage - Garcinia Cambogia Diet

    ReplyDelete
  24. Here are some key managemеnt pointѕ to help keep in mіnd.
    First, the BEST sуstem gіves the oppoгtunity tο all people
    tο undeгgo mаnagement educatіоn.

    If yоu respect the dеadlines enfοrcеd by human rеsourcеs to
    make their lives easier, your hiring ρaρeгwork or that raise yоu need prοcesseԁ οn your stаr staff member ωill be nοt as likely to sit on somеοne's desk for a month.

    Look at my web-site: degree program

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ϲyberсrime is οften a becoming a bigger challenge
    ωith mοre and more reports of swinԁling, id theft, embezzlement, hаckіng, frаud, child poгnography,
    financіal thеft, ρhіshing scams, сyber stalking, drug trafficking, cyber terroгism, theгefoгe on.
    Unuѕual this could sound, but beіng a foοtballer, а foοtballer.
    As of May 2009, οccupational therapist аssіstants earned typicаlly $50,830
    annually, in accordance with BLS.

    My web blog ... a eminent article about emt salary missouri

    ReplyDelete
  26. Couples engaged and gettіng marгiеd аre also embraсing in this way of preservіng the moments оf one in the mоst important events
    of thеіr lives. It significаntly adds to the efficiencу in the agents, thus, they're able to respond to customer needs as rapidly and effectively as possible. Because of course you like different, one-of-a-kind, unique things.

    Here is my blog post - straight from the Source

    ReplyDelete
  27. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to
    say that I've really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I'll be subscribing to your feed and
    I hope you write again soon!

    my page; Registry Cleaner

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm gone to inform my little brother, that he should also go to see this blog on regular basis to get updated from most recent reports.

    Also visit my web blog; how To play ukulele

    ReplyDelete
  29. hello there and thank you for your info – I have definitely picked up something new from right
    here. I did however expertise some technical issues using this
    website, as I experienced to reload the web site many times previous to I could get it to load properly.
    I had been wondering if your web host is OK? Not that I'm complaining, but sluggish loading instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and could damage your high-quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Well I'm adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look
    out for much more of your respective intriguing
    content. Make sure you update this again very soon.


    Also visit my web site :: Pure Garcinia Cambogia

    ReplyDelete
  30. You made some decent points there. I looked on the web for additional information
    about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this site.



    Feel free to surf to my webpage - bmi calculations

    ReplyDelete
  31. When someone writes an piece of writing he/she maintains the thought of a
    user in his/her brain that how a user can
    understand it. So that's why this article is amazing. Thanks!

    my webpage ... InstaForex

    ReplyDelete
  32. Why visitors still make use of to read news papers when
    in this technological globe all is presented on net?


    Here is my web page: Costa mesa credit union

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hi! I could have sworn Iíve been to this blog before but after going through many of the posts I realized itís new to me.
    Nonetheless, Iím definitely happy I stumbled upon it and Iíll be book-marking
    it and checking back frequently!

    Visit my website - zamtasty.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Please let me know if you're looking for a article writer for your site. You have some really good articles and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I'd love to write some
    content for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine.
    Please blast me an e-mail if interested. Many thanks!


    Also visit my blog: adult free webcam chat sites

    ReplyDelete
  35. Its like you read my thoughts! You seem to know so much approximately this,
    like you wrote the ebook in it or something. I believe that you simply can do with
    some % to drive the message home a little
    bit, but other than that, this is great blog.
    An excellent read. I'll definitely be back.

    Feel free to visit my page Identity Access Management

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hello Friend,

    Simply awesome Really interesting ,,brilliant post..thanks for sharing...!!!

    Project Management Tool
    Issues Reporting Tool


    ReplyDelete
  37. Planning Engineer is a specialized website in construction management,
    project management, primavera p6, project scheduling, online courses,
    planning engineer, project management, construction management, project schedule,
    oracle primavera and primavera course.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Agile approaches are typically used in software development to help businesses respond to unpredictability. Agile development software provides opportunities to assess the direction throughout the development lifecycle.

    ReplyDelete
  39. The opinion of the author is very relevant and simplified. I have loved the way the author has presented the explanation on this topic so well. In fact, I have also learned on new tips about counseling, and therefore, I find this post to be very informative and nice to read for Project management software.

    ReplyDelete
  40. When your website or blog goes live for the first time, it is exciting. That is until you realize no one but you and your. Selenium automation

    ReplyDelete
  41. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  42. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete