Software Testing in Scrum Is Not What You Think It Is

You come across another article that furthers the debate about software testing in Scrum. You get confused by the terminology – a software tester, a software engineer, a QA engineer… You are tired of the inconsistency – there is no such thing as a software tester in Agile teams. But there is testing in Scrum. Or maybe not?

This entire discussion is overcomplicated for no reason. Let’s decompose this topic and, once and for all, solve the mystery of testing in Scrum.

Where Does Testing Fit Within Scrum?

There’re no testing teams in Scrum. Technically.

Scrum doesn’t recognize the traditional software development hierarchy. It combines specialists with different skillsets and expertise under a singular role – “developers”. They are responsible for producing a valuable increment (a smaller portion of the project).

Precisely because there’s no division between dev, operations, and QA services, the entire department operates as one. Such a collaborative mindset is what makes the “developers” unit so productive. And no one dares say that QA in Agile isn’t needed. If anything, the approach makes testing more powerful.

Software Development Process in Scrum

The software development lifecycle (SDLC) in Scrum is very straightforward and accumulative. It’s broken down into sprints (time-boxed iterations for product development), and each sprint calls for the direct involvement of the three primary agents: a product owner, developers, and a Scrum master. And the QA process in Agile is, essentially, continuous.

1. Product backlog creation – product owner compiles a prioritized list of features, user stories, and tasks, called the product backlog.
2. Sprint planning – the development team selects items from the backlog for the upcoming sprint and defines tasks. The sprint goal is set.
3. Sprint execution:
   – daily stand-ups (short meetings where the team discusses progress, challenges, and plans);
   – development (the team works on tasks, building and testing features incrementally);
   – continuous testing (QA engineers test throughout the sprint, ensuring quality).
4. Sprint review – team showcases completed work to stakeholders, gathers feedback, and adapts plans if needed.
5. Sprint retrospective – team reflects on the sprint, identifies improvement areas, and adjusts processes.
6. Repeat – steps 2-5 are repeated in subsequent sprints, iteratively delivering increments of the product.

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QA and Testing Process in Agile

Traditional “software testers” could neatly fit within classical software development methods. Yet with Scrum, the notion of “just bug reporting” is nonexistent. Agile QA testing goes beyond a single procedure.

#1. Iterative Development

• Scrum follows an iterative and incremental approach with small, manageable iterations (sprints). Each sprint includes planning, development, testing, and review activities.
• Traditional methods often have distinct phases: requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and deployment. Testing typically occurs after the development phase.

#2. Continuous Testing

• Testing with Agile methodology is continuous and ongoing throughout the sprint. Developers and software testers collaborate to ensure that each increment is thoroughly tested and meets the acceptance criteria.
• Traditionally, testing occurs in a dedicated phase after development is complete.

#3. Cross-Functional Teams

• Scrum teams are cross-functional, consisting of developers, software testers, designers, and other vital roles. This ensures that testing expertise is available within the team, promoting better communication and faster issue resolution.
• A separate QA team often performs testing. This might lead to potential communication gaps between developers and software testers.

#4. User Stories & Acceptance Criteria

• User stories define the desired functionality from a user’s perspective in Scrum. And acceptance criteria outline specific conditions that must be met for a user story to be considered complete.
• Requirements are often detailed in lengthy documents in traditional methods. The more reports the departments are to process, the bigger the chance for misunderstandings.

#5. Test-Driven Development (TDD)

• TDD is a common practice in Scrum, where tests are written before the code. This ensures that code is developed to a priori meet specific requirements, i.e., testing is an integral part of the development process.
• Within traditional approaches, TDD is less common. And testing is often performed after code development.

#6. Daily Stand-ups & Communication

• Daily stand-up meetings promote communication among Scrum team members, including software testers, to discuss progress, challenges, and potential testing issues.
• While traditionally, communication might be less frequent, leading to delayed issue identification and resolution.

#7. Continuous Improvement

• The sprint retrospective encourages continuous improvement. Retrospectives allow the Scrum team to reflect on what went well and what needs improvement.
• Continuous improvement might be less structured and formalized in traditional methods. The absence of regular retrospectives can generate missed opportunities for enhancements and adapting to alternating circumstances.

Traditional SDLCs, e.g., Waterfall, Spiral, V-shaped, put QA into a waiting mode. All software testers can do is deal with what they are given and report. On the other hand, Agile methodology embeds software testing professionals’ skills and knowledge into the core of the development processes.

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Software Testers and QA Engineers – a Term Shift or an Evolution?

It’s both. Software testers are mainly responsible for script writing, test execution, and documentation upkeep.

Software testers:

• Focus primarily on executing test cases, both manual and automated, to validate the functionality of software applications.
• Identify defects or issues in the software through systematic testing, ensuring that the application meets specified requirements.
• Perform regression testing to verify that new code changes do not negatively impact existing functionality.
• Create and maintain detailed test cases, test scripts, and test data, ensuring thorough documentation of testing activities.
• Report defects to the development team, providing clear and concise information to aid in issue resolution.
• May perform exploratory testing to uncover unexpected defects and provide additional insights beyond scripted tests.
• Focus on achieving comprehensive test coverage based on test cases and acceptance criteria.
• Might conduct ad hoc testing to address specific scenarios or user behaviors that are not covered in formal test cases.

So, a software tester’s duties are narrowed down and would fit certain projects:

• Projects that use traditional SDLC models.
• Small projects with limited resources.
• Projects focused on maintaining and fixing issues in existing software.
• Short-term projects where a quick validation of functionality is sufficient.
• Projects with well-defined requirements that don’t need extensive quality process oversight.
• Projects that require occasional testing for specific scenarios or situations.

So QA engineers are an adaptation to Agile methodologies. For products that rely on Scrum, for instance, software testers simply wouldn’t suffice. The QA process flow in Agile needs much more.

How Scrum Redefines “Software Testers”

Scrum and agile methodologies empower software testers to contribute proactively to the development process. They no longer take care of a singular phase of SDLC. They “course” through the entire project duration.

• Early involvement – software testers are involved from the project’s inception, contributing to refining user stories and acceptance criteria, ensuring a clear understanding of requirements.
• Continuous testing – software testers engage in ongoing testing throughout each sprint, collaborating closely with developers to detect and resolve issues promptly.
• Cross-functional collaboration – software testers work closely with developers, product owners, etc., promoting better communication, shared understanding, and faster issue resolution.
• Test automation – agile encourages test automation to ensure swift and frequent testing cycles, enabling software testers to focus on exploratory and high-value testing.
• Adaptive testing – software testers adapt testing efforts based on changing priorities, ensuring that critical features are thoroughly tested while remaining responsive to user needs.
• User-centric testing – software testers focus on end-user perspectives, ensuring that software meets customer expectations and delivers value.
• Continuous improvement – software testers actively participate in sprint retrospectives, identifying areas for improvement in testing processes and contributing to the team’s continuous growth.
• Test-driven development – software testers may participate in TDD practices, writing tests before code is developed, which helps guide development and ensures test coverage.
• Shift left testing – agile encourages early testing, reducing defects by identifying issues earlier in the development cycle.
• Quality advocacy/ – software testers act as quality advocates, emphasizing the importance of delivering a high-quality product and helping the team maintain high standards.
• Rapid feedback – agile provides immediate feedback loops, allowing software testers to quickly validate changes and provide insights for refinement.
• Multi-disciplinary skills – software testers may acquire broader skills beyond testing, contributing to tasks like documentation, support, and user training.

How Quality Assurance Works in Agile

Agile/Scrum methodologies empower software testing specialists. The responsibilities of QA engineers are dynamic and integral to the development process. Their role extends beyond traditional testing to encompass various collaborative and quality-focused activities.

• Participate in sprint planning to understand user stories, acceptance criteria, requirements, and potential challenges.
• Collaborate closely with developers, product owners, and other team members.
• Create comprehensive test cases based on user stories and acceptance criteria.
• Conduct testing throughout the sprint, collaborating with developers to validate functionality, identify defects, and ensure quality.
• Develop and maintain automation testing services to ensure efficient and consistent testing.
• Perform exploratory testing to uncover hidden issues and provide insights beyond scripted tests.
• Integrate testing into CI/CD pipeline, ensuring automated tests run seamlessly after changes.
• Report and track defects, working with the team to prioritize and resolve issues promptly.
• Provide feedback during sprint reviews and retrospectives to enhance product quality and team processes.
• Adjust testing efforts based on changing priorities and sprint goals, ensuring value delivery.
• Advocate for quality within the team, promoting the importance of quality assurance practices.
• Ensure thorough and accurate documentation of test cases, test results, etc.
• Validate that the product meets user needs and expectations, ensuring a positive UX.
• Participate in sprint retrospectives, suggesting improvements to testing\team processes.
• Share expertise with team members, contributing to a culture of learning and skill development.
• Identify and communicate potential risks to product quality, helping make informed decisions.

To Sum Up

So, no – there is no place for a software tester in agile teams. But a QA engineer is their authentic part. And yes, QA engineers are the next-level software testers. But they don’t diminish the value of the latter. Both play a crucial role in delivering a quality product. They just do it in different ways.