The models for improving test processes can enable the overall IT industry to achieve greater maturity level and professionalism. These models enable development of cross-organizational parameters that which are useful for comparisons.

Table of contents

1. IDEAL model for Process Improvement
2. Initiate the process improvement
3. Diagnose the present circumstances
4. Establish a plan for improving the testing process
5. Action to execute the improvements
6. Learn lessons from improvements

As the necessity of process improvement was felt in software testing organizations, several industry standard models have been proposed like Systematic Test and Evaluation Process (STEP), Test Process Improvement (TPI) Next, Critical Testing Processes (CTP) and Testing Maturity Model integration (TMMi). These models are discussed in the next topic.

CMMI and TMMi are staged models and define benchmarks for different organizations to compare against each other. Based on assessment results, a process improvement road map is drawn.

STEP, TPI Next and CTP are continuous models, which assist organizations in dealing with the issues that have highest priority, allows them to choose the order in which they are addressed.

These models are discussed in more detail in the next topic on process improvement models.

Each of the above models help the organization in assessing its test process efficiency. In order to improve the software testing process, TPI Next and TMMi will recommend road maps once the assessment is performed.

In case CTP or STEP is being implemented, after the assessment is complete, these models offer methods to evaluate which process improvement will yield maximum returns.

The road map for process improvement has to be selected by the organization. Apart from improvements in efficiency, reduction in cost of quality can be one of the factors influencing the choice.

The organization must be flexible enough to accommodate the changes suggested by the model like improvements to defects management, better tracking of test metrics or stricter monitoring and control of testing process. Test implementation and test execution processes could also require changes if they are found to be lacking.

Whatever the technique used, all the models enable an organization to evaluate its existing test processes.

IDEAL model for Process Improvement

After the organization is convinced that its test processes need review and improvement, the implementation steps must be defined as per the IDEAL model:

• Initiate the process improvement
• Diagnose the present circumstances
• Establish a plan for improving the testing process
• Action to execute improvement
• Learn lessons from implementing the above process improvements

Initiate the process improvement

To start the process improvement the stakeholders must carry out the following activities:

• Setting goals and objectives for process improvement
• Defining scope as well as coverage for process improvement
• Selecting an industry standard model mentioned earlier (like CTP, STEP etc) for process improvement or developing one internally
• Defining success criteria
• Establishing metrics for evaluating success and defining how it is to be measured

Diagnose the present circumstances

In this phase the current software testing process is evaluated based on an approved evaluation method. After the assessment, a report containing evaluation of the existing testing process as well as suggested improvements is generated.

Establish a plan for improving the testing process

In this phase the all the suggested process improvements from diagnosis phase are prioritized based on these criteria:

• Product and quality risks
• How well they align with the organizations strategies
• Return on Investments
• Measurable benefits, qualitative and/or quantitative

After the list of improvements is prioritized, the plan for delivering those improvements is prepared.

Action to execute the improvements

As the name suggests, the plan for test process improvement is implemented in this phase. This also involves mentoring and training the people involved, if required, process piloting and then full implementation.

Learn lessons from improvements

After the improvement processes are completely deployed, the outcomes must be compared against previously estimated benefits to check if the expected benefits and unexpected ones were achieved. In addition, its required to check if the process improvements have met all their success criteria.

Based upon process model implemented, at this stage the process observation can start for the next maturity level.

Depending on learning from implementing the plan, decision is usually made to again start the process improvement or stop.

The next topic explores software testing process improvement models – TMMi, TPI Next, CTP, STEP.

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