Development and testing teams all around the globe are adopting the Agile way of doing things. This leaves test managers an important question to answer: What does this change mean for us and how will it impact our roles? Managers need not worry because they are as important and valuable as ever. Their roles are now even tougher as the pressure to deliver high-quality products in less time has now increased. This will require them to put all their knowledge and experience in trying to manage development and testing teams to produce expected results.
Let’s have a look at some of the changes in test managers’ roles.
From Managing to Enabling Teams
Managers are now required to be extra sharp with the ability to make rapid decisions when it comes to selecting an appropriate mix of manual and automated approaches as well as relevant test case management software. Managers must be able to quickly gather and process risk-related data to make informed decisions to ensure efficiency in testing.
From Testing to Coaching
Teams of testers usually consist of highly-skilled QA experts. But it doesn’t mean that they don’t face challenges. They face their own set of challenges daily that need to be taken care of by the test manager and it is his job to ensure that the right decisions are made every time as the right-first-time approach is required for meeting deadlines. For this, managers have to put their coaching hat on to enable the team to perform better.
The shift of Management from Testers to Tests
Test managers can either focus on testers or tests. The optimal approach is to provide teams with test case management software that improves the outcomes of the testing processes through integration features, bug management, and easy collaboration.
The shift of Focus from Documentation to Strategy
The traditional environment required a higher level of documentation to plan and execute tests. But in Agile, it’s more about strategy. And the primary ingredient to a fool-proof strategy is to have deep knowledge and a better understanding of the testing process. The documentation needs to be as low and concise as possible.
From Accountability to Facilitating Communication
There is no one individual responsible for released software. No one gets to take all the credit or put the blame on someone else because the whole team is responsible. Here, the test manager fills the gap of a mediator who facilitates communication across Agile teams working in an organization. The test manager is the bridge between higher management and the teams under him. He/she presents a 360-degree view of testing, shares the testers’ concerns, and implements the strategies and plans that are agreed upon. He must also have the bargaining power to choose the right test case management software for his team.
Conclusion
The above-mentioned are some of the roles and responsibilities that have changed due to the increased adoption of Agile practices. Test managers need to be equipped with relevant skills and test case management software to successfully enable teams to produce improved results.
