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Testing
How to Improve a Manual Testing Process?
- By Admin
- Posted on 11/10/2024
In Manual testing, the tester checks the software for any bugs or errors. This is different from automation testing as it is done without using any kind of automated tools. It tests the software in various situations to ensure it works properly.
How defects are identified in manual testing?
In this process, necessary test cases are created and executed test cases to identify any kind of bugs in the software.
To learn it perfectly, join a well-known software testing training center.
Assess the Current Process
Evaluation of the existing process thoroughly is necessary to enhance the manual testing process. This requires careful and detailed consideration.
Identifying Bottlenecks (Problem Conditions): Pinpoint the steps in the testing process that are slow, repetitive, or prone to undetected errors.
Review of Tools: The tools used for manual testing should be reviewed to see how well they work. It includes test management tools and bug-tracking tools.
Assessing infrastructure: Factors like test plan, test coverage, and bug tracking should be analyzed.
Feedback collection: Collect feedback from testers and stakeholders to understand their concerns about the testing process.
Suitability and Validation: Assess how well the current testing system is performing, especially to see if any changes are needed.
Through this step, it becomes easier to identify errors in the manual testing process and understand where and how they occurred.
Enhance Test Planning
Test planning is crucial for improving the manual testing process. Check out the below-mentioned pointers to understand it:
Clearly understand test requirements: Before starting test planning, business requirements and technical details must be completely understood. Errors in testing can occur if the requirements are not clearly defined.
Determine the test objectives clearly: Be sure in advance what you want to test and what the results will be. The right objectives will make the testing process easier.
Risk-Based Testing: Categorize test cases based on priority and risk. High-priority and high-risk features should be tested first.
Prepare a detailed test plan: Each test should have a clear plan. Know the expected outcomes and test cases in advance to prepare effectively.
Planning for complete coverage: Test coverage should be planned to cover 100% of the business requirements. Be sure to cover all aspects of the scope specifically.
Reuse existing testing caps: Save time and effort by reviewing existing test caps and repurposing them as needed.
Get customer feedback: It helps you know which features they value the most.
By improving test planning in this way, the testing process becomes easier and more efficient.
Improve Test Case Design
Enhancing test case design is crucial for better manual testing. Here are detailed tips on how to improve it:
Create clear test cases: Write each test case in a step-by-step manner. What is being tested should be something specific. Hence, focus on edge cases rather than simple scenarios.
Use test case templates: It is better to use templates to ensure that all test cases are the same. Consistency and clarity will increase by doing this.
Modularity of Test Cases: Design each test case separately. These should be reusable. Thus, any changes made will not affect the entire test set.
Peer reviews: After test cases are developed, review them. This helps in correcting errors and improving test coverage.
Prioritize according to importance: Test cases should be categorized based on business importance and risk. Important features should be tested first.
Eliminate Duplicate Tests: Ensure that identical test cases are not repeated. This saves time and makes testing more efficient.
By following these points, the test case design can be improved so that the manual testing process is efficient and timely.
Streamline Test Execution
This step is necessary to improve the performance and efficiency of the software. This can be explained by these points.
1. Test Data Management:
- Create and maintain systematic test data. This preserves data consistency during testing.
- Use a standard test data set for repeatable testing.
2. Eliminate two types of tests:
- Identify repetitive, redundant tests and eliminate them. This wastes your time and effort.
3. Logical Grouping:
- Group test cases by related module or feature. This simplifies the testing process and reduces confusion.
4. Parallel Testing:
- Save the total test time by doing multiple tests at the same time.
5. Systematic Test Execution:
- Systematic test execution ensures clarity without confusion. So, run tests one after the other, starting with important functional tests, and then doing smaller unit tests.
6. Initial Test Cases:
- Run critical test cases early on to identify functionality issues early. This provides an opportunity to share feedback with the developer.
7. Regular Test Runs:
- Conduct continuous test runs. It is useful for recovery testing considering the stability of the system.
These measures help improve test execution, resulting in better results and a faster testing process.
Leverage Tools for Efficiency
It is important to use tools to improve the manual testing process. Speed and accuracy of testing can be increased by efficient use of equipment. The equipment should be used as follows:
Using test management tools: Tools like Jira, TestRail, or Zephyr can effectively manage test cases, execution, and reporting.
Automating bug tracking: Integrating test management tools with bug tracking systems allows for quick reporting of issues, leading to faster bug fixes.
Use of automation tools: These tools save manual testers' time by repeating similar tests. It's best to automate tests like regression testing, which often need to be done.
Parallel Testing: Save time by using tools that can run multiple test cases at the same time. This speeds up the entire testing process.
Visual Dashboards: Test progress can be tracked regularly by using dashboards. Visually observe the testing situation and take action where necessary.
Reporting Tools: By generating test reports using tools, testing errors can be effectively identified.
Enhance Reporting and Metrics
Tracking progress with dashboards: Use visual dashboards to monitor exam progress. They display test results, defect density, and test coverage. Hence, decision-making becomes easier.
Generating actionable reports: The detailed reports help in analyzing test results and defect trends. The reports focus on system improvements, challenges, possible problems, and risk areas.
Making decisions based on data: Use test metrics to make improvements based on test results. Apply feedback on test coverage, defect leakage, and test design effectiveness.
Evaluating test performance: Improve test methods by analyzing defect leakage. Analyze root causes of problems and revise test design.
Encourage Continuous Improvement
Key things you should do to promote "continuous improvement" to improve the manual testing process:
Post-test analysis: After each test cycle, review the results. Identify errors, missing test cases, and areas in need of improvement.
Retrospective Meetings: After testing, hold team review meetings to discuss what worked well and what didn’t.
Staying updated on best practices: Provide training to testers to enhance their knowledge of new testing methods, tools, and technologies.
New testing methods: Carefully consider the new testing frameworks and options available in the market.
Detailed documentation: Provide valuable information for future testing cycles by maintaining detailed documentation after completion of each test cycle.
Focus on Tester Skills Development
Better skills lead to increased efficiency, speed, and technical knowledge. So, focus on enhancing their skill by arranging advanced manual testing training programs.
Enhancement of Domain Knowledge: Testers must have significant experience in the business domain of the project or product. This helps in improving test coverage.
Learning Advanced Test Design Techniques: Training on advanced test design techniques like Boundary Value Analysis, Equivalence Partitioning, and Decision Tables will make testers more efficient.
Enhancing Critical Thinking: Encouraging investigative testing skills in testers. This can help in identifying issues not covered by the pre-defined test cases.
Learning Automation Basics: By learning automation techniques, testers can automate repetitive tasks and concentrate on more important manual testing activities.
Continuous training and learning: It is important to stay updated on new tools, techniques, and methods in the market. Continuously train testers and develop their skills.
By improving the skills of testers in this way, the manual testing process can be effectively transformed.
Integrate with the Development Process
Some of the points that improve the manual testing process while adding it to the development process are:
Collaboration with developers: Testers and developers should work together to solve immediate problems.
Join the journey: Include testers in the early stages of development so that specifications are clear and feedback can be provided quickly.
Range Testing: Perform testing at each stage of the development project so that any defects can be identified quickly.
Participation in command execution: Development teams should use testing results to focus on more efficient tasks.
Agile methods: Perform testing in frequent increments, thereby increasing quality iteratively.
Conclusion
Improving the manual testing process increases performance, accuracy, and test coverage. If you find it an exciting career option, join a manual testing course from a reputed center like Askme Training.
Related Blog:
Balancing Manual and Automated Testing in Your Workflow
