The Challenges of Incorporating Robust Test Data Management
Testing has expanded. Between automation, artificial intelligence, agile demands, and manual work, the suite of things that need to be done to properly assure the quality of an application has put an even greater demand on your average software team.
We can no longer be myopic when it comes to testing, as there’s a wide group of needs to be addressed on any given project. For a project to succeed, testers must build out robust test data management capabilities in response to growing application demand.
Chris Fuller, Vice President of Worldwide Customer Success at Delphix, outlined why there needs to be a greater focus on test data management in a recent interview with StickyMinds.
“You've got things like unit tests that are happening in development. You've got different flavors of system integration testing. You've got performance and stress testing. You've got user acceptance testing. You've got automated regression testing,” Fuller explained. “All of these different types of testing really need to be taken into account by modern test data management teams.”
You can’t just take them into account—you also have to consider all the different actors that are involved. From employees to consultants (and different people working offshore), you need to understand the diverse needs of your testing teams and work to their strengths. Instead of getting everyone on the same page, focus on managing your testing team so that they work to the best of their abilities and contribute to the overall health of your application.
More than anything, managing your testing team and maximizing the quality of your products is about seeing what you have, understanding how the pieces fit together, and doing everything in your power to elevate those on your team.
“You simply can't do that without testing. You have to test those capabilities before they're released, and not getting good quality test data quickly can be a real impediment,” Fuller continued. “What we're finding is a real focus on test data management, an evolving view of what test data management actually means, and all that's really around helping companies unlock the innovation that they have and unlocking that innovation in their field.”
It’s not easy to reach your maximum testing potential, but before you press reset and try to switch everything up to create a “perfect” testing situation, make an effort to take advantage of the testing team you have, put them in a position to succeed, and help encourage the team to reach their potential.
