In the Game Development industry across the world, we have surely heard about Agile methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban etc. But how does one use Agile methodologies in game testing and what are the benefits of using agile methodologies. Just so we know; the simplest meaning of agile methodology is about promoting a continuous iteration of development and testing throughout the product development stages. Here both development and testing take place at the same time, unlike other models.
The Transition
It is a critical decision when you decide to move from traditional methods to agile testing methods. Several questions arise about defining requirements, test and delivering production ready codes in lesser time frame etc.
In most cases, the traditional approach of waterfall method is used where quality assurance occurs at the end of the development process and gives very less time for the testing. For example: A project that took 10 months to develop, is expected to be tested in mere month and half. Here the timeline appears unrealistic as the testing and resolving the issues may take longer than a month.
Are these the only disruptions that may occur because of shorter timeline allotted for testing. When a product is in testing, it may happen that the test engineers find scenarios that were not covered during the development process. Scenarios that require certain changes from the product features front and if these considerations are to be implemented, then this will add further timelines to development.
Not giving enough importance to testing phase is another common error found with traditional approach. We all would agree that rushing the testing process without proper validations will result in releasing a product that is not dependable in quality.
Agile Testing Methodology
Agile is more iterative and linear, meaning the test engineers verify each update of code as soon as it is finished. The team after assuring functionality of a segment of code, proceeds to the next segment that needs to be completed. Here the testers seek out ways to be more proactive in approach and work on how best they can contribute in the development.
Effective collaboration
In an agile process, the team members work closely with the product owners and have clear understanding of the requirements. Hence, it is not just the testers or QA team who feel liable for the quality of the product. The whole team then works towards delivering the best quality product to the market. The core in agile development is in producing quality driven product in a time frame that meets the business needs and this is certainly a responsibility of the whole team together, and not just the QA testers.
Make QA an integral part of development
Quality assurance should be an integral part of the production process. A good practice is to bring the QA testers into the daily stand-ups from day one and involve them in the sprint planning. It is even advised to have QA in customer calls. When QA hears the customers expectations directly, you save a lot of wasted testing time. Once QA knows about the process, they will be able to manage their time more efficiently by performing the right mix of regression and exploratory testing, instead of only focusing on verifications and validations.
In an agile environment, a tester has to understand the agile management and methodologies. Testers should have excellent interpersonal communication skills, as they are required to interact with clients as well as fellow developers. Honest communication is crucial for ensuring that the deadlines are met and the quality product is delivered.
What methodologies are you using in your product development cycle? Please share about your approach to the problems and how you effectively manage the process. Please write to us at our email address.