Recommendations to Improve the Software Testing Process of the Case Company
Bhutani, Ankit (2021)
Bhutani, Ankit
2021
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021090917607
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2021090917607
Tiivistelmä
The case company is a global IT solution provider in the life sciences industry. Market competition is forcing organizations to deliver better quality products faster. The case company has invested a lot in test automation to be able to release faster and facing some of the challenges brought by test automation. The objective of the thesis is to generate recommendations to improve the software testing process in the case company.
The study utilizes design research methodology and is conducted in four stages. In the first stage, the strengths and weaknesses of the process are identified by conducting a current state analysis of the process. In the second stage, ideas from the literature are searched to tackle the identified weaknesses. The third stage focuses on the co-creation of recommendations with the key stakeholders in the process and an external expert. In the fourth and the final stage generated recommendations are validated by the senior managers of the research and development department. Also, a recommendation plan was created.
The study uses qualitative methods for data gathering. Stakeholder interviews and internal process documents were the main sources of data. The identified weaknesses were divided into four categories namely process operations, knowledge transfer, key performance indicators, and process improvement. The recommendations are suggested to tackle weaknesses in each category and a redesigned process is suggested.
The outcome of the thesis is a list of recommendations that provide practical solutions to tackle inefficiencies in the current testing process. The proposed process improvements will help the case company develop better quality software products faster when implemented. Some of the recommendations require detail planning while others can be taken into use with minimum time investment. Some elements of the recommendations are transferable and can be utilized by other I.T organizations to improve their software testing process.
The study utilizes design research methodology and is conducted in four stages. In the first stage, the strengths and weaknesses of the process are identified by conducting a current state analysis of the process. In the second stage, ideas from the literature are searched to tackle the identified weaknesses. The third stage focuses on the co-creation of recommendations with the key stakeholders in the process and an external expert. In the fourth and the final stage generated recommendations are validated by the senior managers of the research and development department. Also, a recommendation plan was created.
The study uses qualitative methods for data gathering. Stakeholder interviews and internal process documents were the main sources of data. The identified weaknesses were divided into four categories namely process operations, knowledge transfer, key performance indicators, and process improvement. The recommendations are suggested to tackle weaknesses in each category and a redesigned process is suggested.
The outcome of the thesis is a list of recommendations that provide practical solutions to tackle inefficiencies in the current testing process. The proposed process improvements will help the case company develop better quality software products faster when implemented. Some of the recommendations require detail planning while others can be taken into use with minimum time investment. Some elements of the recommendations are transferable and can be utilized by other I.T organizations to improve their software testing process.