defect management

Test Teams Evaluation to Improve Effectiveness

Evaluating a test team member’s abilities is crucial in recognizing deficiencies within the team, and it provides an opportunity to outline a strategy to remedy the weaknesses. Selecting the proper method for evaluating the test team’s abilities is vital.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
A tester going over software code 8 Questions to Ask before Fixing a Defect

Some defects require a fix, without a doubt. But not all defects are created equal, so careful thought should be applied before a defect is fixed. The goal isn’t to fix every reported defect; it’s to return value to the customer and profit to the company. These eight questions can help in the decision-making process.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
Walk/don't walk street sign Stop Releasing Untested Defect Fixes into Production

Releasing untested defect fixes into production is a real possibility. Being aware of how this can occur may help reduce the possibility of it happening. Let’s explore the common reasons defect fixes go untested—insufficient testing or resources, and undocumented fixes—as well as the steps we can take to prevent them.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
Tester looking at a defect log Defect Reporting: The Next Steps

When a software defect is identified, best practices usually only pertain to the initial writing of the defect, not the tasks required to close it. Many factors can influence the tester's work. The solution is to add a “Next Steps” section that identifies the work remaining and the person responsible for completing it.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
Train track going through the woods Get Your Defect-Tracking Database Back on Track

When defects are ignored or mismanaged, it can compromise the integrity of the defect-tracking database. When this happens, defects could go unfixed, or code fixes may not be verified by the production release. Before you can resolve a compromised defect-tracking database, you need to know how to recognize one.

Richard Estra's picture
Richard Estra
Agile Development Tool Roundup

One of the basic tenets of agile is to favor “individuals and interactions over processes and tools,” as stated in the Agile Manifesto. This, however, has not stopped the onslaught of vendors claiming that their tools are perfect for the different aspects of agile development.

Joe Townsend's picture
Joe Townsend