Testing is regarded as the number one bottleneck in the software delivery process. Most people simply conclude that developers are value centers, and testers are cost centers. But developers' work also brings cost, and—more importantly—testers' work also brings value. It's time to reframe our thinking about testing.

With a framework in place, engineers can stop worrying about everything that framework does for them. Your team can focus on solving your business problems instead of building yet another solution to an old problem that's been solved before. Look around and identify the mistakes your team is making over and over.

Many companies avoid genuine innovation for fear of making potentially complex changes without producing measurable results. But you can start small with internal changes that have limited scope and that deliver prompt solutions, so there's less upfront investment—and less risk. Here's how to innovate inexpensively.