Why Test Case Management? Test cases are designed to verify the functionality or particular features of the software. This set of actions contains specific steps, data, and conditions to ascertain the requirements for determining conditions.
It implies that test cases clarify the system’s need to connect the whole testing process. Test case management needs to be done if your requirements are significantly high, if you have to go through notable testing operations, you might need to work around the whole process to optimize the testing so that quality and credibility of the software is not compromised.
Testing Software Applications
Development and testing go side by side; the moment developers start creating the application, at the same bit, it needs to be tested by an assigned person. As the process of the development tends to increase, its testing becomes relatively complex, which was previously limited to common sense. Now you need to work around complex functionalities and find out a way to manage all the test cases which are associated with that software.
Technology has been evolving over time, and now people prefer to opt for test case management tools rather than working in traditional ways. There were times when this entire process revolved around MS docs and Excel sheets, which had its own set of challenges while making the testing process less reliable.
Benefits of Test Case Management Software
Since you are planning to switch to the management software, there are certain features that you might consider while looking for the software which may help you with improving the quality assurance process. It will not only fasten up the entire process but will also make it much more reliable.
- Should be sound enough to manage the requirements
- Test cases can be edited, created, and executed.
- Smart enough to track bugs
- Tracking coverage while mapping the test requirements
- Full support regarding test case template
- Smart enough to link bugs during test execution
- Customized reporting mechanism
- Provides full coverage testing
Challenges of Test Case Management
In the initial days of software development, test case management seems irrelevant. Still, gradually as the development process speeds up, one realizes how hard it is becoming to manage the quality of the system manually. As these tools and automation processes have their own perks, there are a few aspects that might result negatively.
Challenging to test the entire program: Such tools primarily purpose to do testing regarding specific scenarios and not to test the whole system. Test case management won’t scale well if you are not sure about the cases you need to work around and do not have enough of the related information.
Underestimating time, cost, and effort: When you are introducing a new tool in your system, you need to have relevant training regarding it. If you are not sure about the ways through which you are going to achieve the beneficial outcomes, then you are wasting your time and resources.
Miscalculating efforts to achieve essential goals: Deep understanding is required to start working with such tools. Initially, one needs to work around in a much more careful way. Anything new involves time, and while your team works around it in the initial phase, you need to set attainable and realistic goals to make the process smooth and to overcome the challenges which might occur. As it would be your first try with the tool so there would be chances that you are not able to make the most out of the entire process.
Efforts to Maintain Results: Most people consider that the tool will do the entire job itself, and you are not required to maintain the records or results generated. Underestimating the efforts, you need to put in during the test case management may result in an irrelevant or failed scenario.
Depending way too much on the tool: Purpose of test management tools is to make the process consistent, easy, and efficient, but it does not mean that you entirely depend upon it for testing purposes. There are certain features for which the tool is designed, and it is supposed to work around the set targets. These automated tools are helpful, but it does require a particular skill set and level of intelligence from its user to get the job done. You can expect a test case management tool to do test designing.
While entering the world of software quality assurance, one needs to understand that test cases play an essential and integral role. It proclaims what to expect from the software and what results should be generated in each scenario. A software tester understands the importance of such tools, which automate the process with minimum input and deliver qualitative work.
See more software testing resources on EuroSTAR Huddle.
