Integration Testing

Objective: To verify the interaction and data flow between integrated software components.
Approach: Test individual modules or units in isolation and then test them together as a group to validate their integration.
Types: Top-down, bottom-up, incremental, big bang.

System Integration Testing

Objective: To validate the integration and interaction of multiple systems or subsystems.
Approach: Test end-to-end scenarios involving multiple systems to ensure seamless communication and functionality.
Focus: Integration points, data exchange, interoperability.

System Testing

Objective: To validate the entire system's behaviour and functionality.
Scope: End-to-end testing of the software application.
Focus: User interfaces, business logic, system integrations, workflows.

Regression Testing

Objective: To ensure that recent code changes haven't adversely affected existing functionality.
Scope: Re-execution of previously executed test cases.
Types: Selective, complete, partial.

User Acceptance Testing (UAT):

Objective: To validate the software against user requirements and business needs.
Approach: End-users or stakeholders perform testing in a real-world environment.
Focus: Usability, functionality, business scenarios.

Performance Testing

Objective: To assess the performance, scalability, and responsiveness of the software under various conditions.
Types: Load testing, stress testing, endurance testing, spike testing.
Focus: Response time, throughput, resource utilisation.

Security Testing

Objective: To identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities in the software.
Types: Vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, security scanning.
Focus: Authentication, authorisation, data encryption, secure communication.

Database Testing

Objective: To validate data integrity, consistency, and accuracy in the database.
Scope: SQL queries, stored procedures, triggers, transactions.
Focus: Data manipulation, retrieval, storage.

Accessibility Testing

Objective: To ensure that the software is accessible to users with disabilities.
Focus: Screen readers, keyboard navigation, colour contrast, font size.
Guidelines: WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

Usability Testing:

Objective: To evaluate the software's user interface for usability and user experience.
Approach: Conducting user-centric tests with real users.
Focus: Navigation, layout, clarity, ease of use.

Compatibility Testing:

Objective: To ensure that the software functions consistently across different platforms, devices, and browsers.
Scope: Operating systems, browsers, screen sizes, resolutions.
Focus: Cross-browser compatibility, device compatibility.

Localisation and Internationalisation Testing:

Objective: To validate software adaptability to different languages, cultures, and regional preferences.
Scope: Language support, date/time formats, currency conversions.
Focus: Cultural sensitivities, regional requirements.

Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) Testing:

Objective: To integrate testing into the CI/CD pipeline for automated testing and deployment.
Approach: Automating test execution and deployment processes.
Focus:Test automation, build verification, deployment validation.

Test Architect / Technical Programme Test manager

• Define overall test strategy and architecture.
• Evaluate and select appropriate testing tools and technologies.
• Provide technical leadership in designing test frameworks.
• Define and enforce testing best practices and standards across projects.

Test Lead / Test Manager

• Define testing strategies, timelines, and resource allocation.
• Mentor and provide guidance to other team members.
• Report testing progress and metrics to project stakeholders.
• Manage test environments and test data.

Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer / Tester

• Develop and execute test cases, scripts, plans, and procedures.
• Identify, report, and track defects using bug tracking tools.
• Participate in requirement analysis and review of user stories.
• Collaborate with developers, product managers, and other stakeholders to ensure software quality.
• Automate test cases where possible to improve efficiency.

Test Automation Engineer

• Design, develop, and maintain automated test scripts and frameworks.
• Select appropriate automation tools and technologies.
• Execute automated test suites and analyse results.
• Integrate automated tests into the continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline.

Performance Testing Engineer

• Design and execute performance tests to assess system scalability, reliability, and responsiveness.
• Analyse performance test results and identify performance bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with developers to optimise application performance.
• Use performance testing tools like JMeter, LoadRunner, or Gatling.

Security Testing Engineer

• Identify vulnerabilities and security flaws in software applications.
• Perform security assessments and penetration testing.
• Recommend security measures to mitigate risks.
• Utilise security testing tools such as OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, or Nessus.

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) Tester

• Conduct testing from an end-user perspective to validate that the system meets business requirements.
• Create UAT test cases based on business requirements.
• Coordinate with business stakeholders to ensure UAT coverage.
• Document and report UAT findings to project stakeholders.

DevOps Engineer

• Implement and maintain the CI/CD pipeline for automated build, test, and deployment.
• Configure and manage test environments and infrastructure.
• Collaborate with development and testing teams to streamline the release process.

Accessibility Testing Engineer

• Evaluate software applications for compliance with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).
• Identify accessibility issues and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Utilise assistive technologies and accessibility testing tools.
• Advocate for accessibility best practices within the development and testing teams.

Localisation and Internationalisation Testing Engineer

• Verify that software applications are compatible with various languages, cultures, and regions.
• Conduct linguistic and cultural validation testing.
• Ensure proper handling of international formats, currencies, and date/time formats.
• Collaborate with localisation teams to address language-specific issues.

Regression Testing Specialist

• Design and execute regression test suites to ensure that new code changes do not adversely affect existing functionality.
• Maintain and update regression test cases.
• Automate regression tests for efficient execution.
• Analyse regression test results and identify any regression defects.

Test Data Engineer

• Generate and manage test data required for testing activities.
• Ensure test data integrity, privacy, and compliance with regulations (e.g., GDPR).
• Develop and maintain test data management tools and processes.
• Collaborate with other teams to synchronise test data across environments

Exploratory Tester

• Perform exploratory testing to discover defects and usability issues not covered by scripted tests.
• Use domain knowledge and creativity to uncover hidden risks.
• Provide feedback on user experience and product usability.
• Collaborate with developers and testers to refine test coverage based on exploratory findings.

Documentation and Training Specialist

• Create and maintain test documentation including test plans, test cases, and test reports.
• Develop training materials and documentation for end-users or internal stakeholders.
• Ensure documentation complies with organisational standards and regulatory requirements.
• Provide training and support to team members on testing processes and tools.

Continuous Improvement / Quality Coach

• Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives within the testing team.
• Conduct root cause analysis of defects and testing process inefficiencies.
• Identify opportunities for process optimisation and automation.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to team members on quality practices.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

• In-depth knowledge of the software development life cycle phases, including requirements analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance.
• Understanding the role of testing in each phase and how it contributes to the overall quality of the software.

Requirements Analysis

• Review and understand the functional and non-functional requirements of the software.
• Ensure clarity and completeness of requirements to guide the testing process effectively.

Testing Methodologies and Frameworks

• Familiarity with different testing methodologies such as waterfall, agile, DevOps, and their respective testing frameworks.
• Understanding of test-driven development (TDD), behaviour-driven development (BDD), and acceptance test-driven development (ATDD) approaches.

Test Planning and Strategy

• Ability to create detailed test plans outlining the testing objectives, scope, approach, resources, timelines, and deliverables.
• Proficiency in defining test strategies based on project requirements, risk analysis, and available resources.

Test Environment Setup

• Provision of a dedicated test environment with necessary hardware, software, and configurations.
• Configuration of test environments to simulate production-like conditions.

Test Case Design

• Create detailed test cases covering all functional and non-functional aspects of the software.
• Define test data, preconditions, steps, and expected results for each test case.

Test Execution

• Execute test cases manually or using automated testing tools.
• Verify software functionality, usability, performance, and security.

Defect Tracking and Management

• Experience with defect tracking and management tools such as JIRA, Bugzilla, HP ALM, etc., for logging, tracking, and resolving software defects.
• Prioritise defects based on severity and impact on software functionality.
• Understanding of defect lifecycle and best practices for prioritising and resolving defects efficiently.

Test Automation

• Knowledge of test automation frameworks such as Selenium, Appium, JUnit, TestNG, Cucumber, etc., for automating test cases.
• Ability to develop and maintain automated test scripts to improve testing efficiency and coverage.

Documentation and Reporting

• Generate detailed test reports summarising test execution, results, defect status and other key metrics.
• Document testing artefacts including test plans, test cases, and test results.
• Communicate testing findings and recommendations to stakeholders.

Communication and Collaboration

• Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams including developers, product managers, business analysts, etc.
• Ability to communicate testing progress, findings, and recommendations to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.

JIRA

• A popular defect tracking tool that allows teams to plan, track, and manage software development projects.
• Features include issue tracking, customisable workflows, and integration with other development tools.

Bugzilla

• An open-source defect tracking system that allows users to report, track, and manage software bugs.
• Features include bug tracking, advanced search capabilities, and email notifications.

HP ALM (Application Lifecycle Management)

• A comprehensive application lifecycle management tool that includes defect management, requirements management, test management, and release management functionalities.
• Features include defect tracking, traceability, reporting, and integration with other ALM tools.

Trello

• A flexible project management tool that can be adapted for defect tracking.
• Features include customisable boards, cards, and lists for managing defects and tasks.

Redline

• An open-source project management and issue tracking tool that includes defect management capabilities.
• Features include issue tracking, time tracking, and integration with version control systems.

MantisBT

• An open-source defect tracking system that allows users to report, track, and manage software bugs.
• Features include bug tracking, custom fields, and email notifications.

GitHub Issues

• A lightweight issue tracking system integrated with GitHub repositories.
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• Features include issue tracking, labels, milestones, and integration with pull requests.

Azure DevOps (formerly Visual Studio Team Services)

• A suite of development tools that includes defect management, version control, build automation, and release management functionalities.
• Features include defect tracking, customisable workflows, and integration with other Microsoft tools.

Defect Identification:

• Defects are identified through various testing activities such as functional testing, integration testing, system testing, regression testing, etc.

Defect Logging

• Defects are logged into the defect management tool with detailed information including description, steps to reproduce, severity, priority, etc.

Defect Prioritisation

• Defects are prioritised based on severity, impact on the software, and business priorities.

Defect Assignment

• Defects are assigned to appropriate team members responsible for resolving them (developers, testers, etc.).

Defect Resolution

• Team members work on resolving the defects by identifying the root cause, fixing the code, and retesting the fixes.

Defect Verification

• Once the defects are resolved, they are retested to ensure that the fixes have been effective, and the defects are truly resolved.

Defect Closure

• Defects are closed in the defect management tool once they are verified as resolved.

Defect Reporting and Analysis

• Defect reports are generated to analyse defect trends, identify areas for improvement, and track defect metrics over time.

Continuous Improvement

• The defect management process is continuously reviewed and improved based on the analysis of defect data and feedback from stakeholders.

End-to-End Coverage

• Comprehensive testing coverage spanning user functionality, system functionality, and system integration, ensuring the reliability and performance of your software systems.

Continuous Integration

• Integration of regression testing into the continuous integration pipeline to detect and address regressions early in the development cycle.

Continuous Improvement

• Continuous improvement of testing processes and methodologies based on feedback, lessons learned, and industry best practices to drive efficiency and quality.

Test Automation

• Utilisation of test automation frameworks to automate repetitive regression test cases, ensuring faster and more reliable testing.

Risk-Based Testing

• Prioritisation of regression test cases based on the impact and likelihood of regression, optimising test coverage within time constraints.

Traceability

• Establishing traceability between requirements, test cases, and defects to ensure comprehensive test coverage and effective defect management.

Collaboration and Communication

• Effective collaboration and communication with stakeholders, development teams, and other project stakeholders to ensure alignment of testing objectives with business goals and project requirements.