Quality Assurance has the potential to reach beyond the perceived view of “Testing.” Organizations that have recognized the value it has much more success with clients. The untapped potential is there; it is a matter of showing it to everyone.
What needs to clear up is the full difference in Quality Assurance and Testing:
Quality Assurance is the discipline to identify and mitigate risks ahead of discovery.
Testing is finding issues while executing against the change, whether it is software or hardware.
What is important to discuss first is the “Why” the primary activities are so essential to mature.
Cost
Efficiency
Throughout the primary activities, one of the critical outputs is improved efficiency, which then reduces the bottom line. A mature and consistent set of processes
will improve speed to market, help with support times, and reduce the need to provide non-scheduled code fixes.
Cost
Efficiency
Throughout the primary activities, one of the critical outputs is improved efficiency, which then reduces the bottom line. A mature and consistent set of processes
will improve speed to market, help with support times, and reduce the need to provide non-scheduled code fixes.
Quality
Output
Along with Cost Efficiency, Quality Output is another component that is more than most general perceptions. People think that it is what the clients get. The better the quality of products, the happier the clients are. Here we focus on so much more. We focus on the quality of the work that is going on from start to finish. From the idea that grows and developed into something tangible. We can also include employee satisfaction and quality culture that can strive to succeed.
Technological
Efficiencies
This outcome is a by-product of the first two. Teams, when they are successful and are efficient, they begin to look for additional efficiencies and or have the ability to look at newer technology to see if it can help grow even more. It could mean the creation of an inventory of tools that is done and reduced because there is sufficient time to investigate what is truly needed. It could also mean in-house tools created to make lives more comfortable.
Technological
Efficiencies
This outcome is a by-product of the first two. Teams, when they are successful and are efficient, they begin to look for additional efficiencies and or have the ability to look at newer technology to see if it can help grow even more. It could mean the creation of an inventory of tools that is done and reduced because there is sufficient time to investigate what is truly needed. It could also mean in-house tools created to make lives more comfortable.
Innovation
Innovation is a big deal. An organization can try to keep up with the pack, or it can lead. Two of the critical factors that slow down innovation are time and resources. There isn’t enough time to get the work started, which leads to the issue with supplies needed. With the above outcomes of the mature activities, this removes the barrier of time and resource constraints. Tied in with a suitable SDLC, Process improvements and Product management maturity, a whole new world can open up.
