What is Agile QA Process?

Agile development is the most efficient and common way of developing software in this digital era. Apart from having an agile development plan, shipping bug-free code also involves implementing an “Agile QA process” into the development cycle.

"In Agile, QA is not a phase. It’s an ongoing commitment" - Lisa Crispin, Agile Testing Expert

What is Agile QA Process?

An Agile QA process is a collection of best practices, methodologies for Quality Assurance which are integrated into Agile software development framework.

According to Statista 2018 report, 91 percent of participants said their company used an agile development process, and 88 percent said they used continuous integration.

In other words, it is a rapid, iterative, collaborative approach towards Quality Assurance concerning Agile development principles.

The main goal is to ensure software developed in an Agile framework consistently meets quality standards and customer expectations by integrating testing throughout the entire development lifecycle, rather than treating it as a final, standalone phase.

Agile QA vs. Traditional QA Process

The Agile QA Process embeds Quality at every step, thereby fostering collaboration and continuous improvement. This enables continuous optimization and ensures delivery value iteratively and rapidly.

The Traditional QA process, in contrast, is typically a linear, sequential approach where quality is verified only at the end of a completed product, often leading to prolonged cycles and a higher cost for late-stage defect discovery.

Feature/Aspect	Agile QA Process	Traditional QA Process (e.g., Waterfall)
Timing of QA	Continuous and Early ("Shift-Left"): QA is integrated from the very beginning of the project (requirement gathering, design) and throughout every iteration/sprint.	Late/Sequential: QA is typically a separate, distinct phase that occurs after the development is largely complete.
Responsibility for Quality	Whole Team Responsibility: Quality is a shared ownership among developers, testers, product owners, and other stakeholders.	Dedicated QA Team Responsibility: Quality assurance is primarily the responsibility of a separate QA team.
Flexibility to Change	Highly Flexible/Adaptive: Embraces changes in requirements and scope throughout the development lifecycle. QA adapts quickly.	Rigid/Resistant to Change: Changes are difficult and costly to implement once a phase is completed. Requirements are typically fixed upfront.
Communication	Frequent, Informal, Face-to-Face: Emphasizes constant collaboration and direct communication between team members.	Formal, Document-Driven: Relies heavily on extensive documentation (e.g., detailed test plans, requirements documents) for communication.
Documentation	Minimal, Just Enough: Focuses on working software over comprehensive documentation. Documentation is lean and adaptable.	Extensive and Detailed: Requires thorough, detailed documentation at every stage of the project.
Feedback Cycles	Short and Continuous: Regular feedback is incorporated at the end of each short sprint (e.g., 1-4 weeks).	Long and Infrequent: Customer or stakeholder feedback is often gathered only at major milestones or at the very end of the project.
Risk Management	Continuous and Proactive: Risks are identified and mitigated early and continuously throughout the project.	Reactive/Later Stage: Risks are often identified and addressed in later phases, leading to potentially more costly fixes.
Test Automation	Aggressively Leveraged: Test automation is crucial for efficient execution of repetitive tests in short cycles.	Less Emphasis/Optional: Automation may be used, but it's not as central to the process; manual testing is often prevalent.
Deliverables	Potentially Shippable Increments: Working software is delivered frequently in small, incremental releases.	Single, Large Final Product: The entire product is delivered at the very end after all phases are complete.
Focus	Customer Value and Fast Delivery: Prioritizes delivering value to the customer quickly and continuously.	Comprehensive Testing and Defect Detection: Focuses on finding as many bugs as possible in the "finished" product before release.
Team Structure	Cross-Functional, Self-Organizing: Teams are comprised of individuals with diverse skills working collaboratively.	Specialized, Hierarchical: Teams often have specialized roles (e.g., separate development and testing teams) with a more hierarchical structure.

Key Principles of Agile QA Process and how to approach them

Below are some of the key aspects of Agile QA.

1. Customer Satisfaction through Early and Continuous Delivery:

Ensuring customer satisfaction by regularly delivering valuable, working software is the main objective of any software product. Agile QA Process supports this by ensuring each release meets quality standards and delivers genuine value to users.

The Shift-Left Approach helps software testers accomplish this. Additionally, adopting test-driven development practices helps QA Engineers to ensure high quality code with less time.

2. Embrace Changing Requirements, Even Late in Development:

Generally, Agile thrives on adaptability. Hence, Agile QA must stay flexible, ready to adjust testing strategies as requirements evolve, ensuring smooth progress without disrupting the workflow.

3. Deliver Working Software Frequently:

Instead of one large release, Agile methodology emphasizes delivering small, functional increments regularly. Quality Assurance is embedded in each increment to ensure its quality and readiness for potential release.

4. Working Software is the Primary Measure of Progress:

The main focus is to deliver tangible as well as tested features, not just documentation or plans. The Agile QA Process is directly tied to the quality of the working software.

5. Agile Processes Promote Sustainable Development:

The Testing team should be able to maintain a consistent pace indefinitely. QA practices, including automation, help prevent burnout and ensure a healthy, sustainable development rhythm.

6. Simplicity – The Art of Maximizing the Amount of Work Not Done – is Essential:

To achieve this QA teams must focus on what is truly necessary and valuable. QA efforts should be efficient, targeted, and avoid unnecessary complexity in testing.

What are the Methodologies involved in Agile QA?

The most common methodologies involved in agile QA are Test-Driven Development, Acceptance Test-Driven Development, and Behavior-driven development

Test-Driven Development:

Test-Driven Development (TDD) is a software development practice where developers write automated unit tests before writing the actual code for a feature or functionality. It follows a rapid, iterative cycle of "Red, Green, Refactor.

The TDD Cycle (Red-Green-Refactor):

Red (Write a Failing Test):

• The developer writes a small, focused automated test case for a single piece of functionality that doesn't yet exist.

• This test is expected to fail because the corresponding code hasn't been written. This failure confirms that the test is correctly detecting the absence of the desired behavior.

Green (Write Just Enough Code to Pass the Test):

• The developer writes the minimum amount of code necessary to make the failing test pass.

• The focus here is solely on making the test pass, not on writing perfectly optimized or complete code.

Refactor (Improve the Code):

• Once the test passes, the developer refactors (cleans up and improves) the newly written code and potentially the test code.

• This includes removing duplication, improving readability, optimizing performance, and ensuring the code integrates well with the existing codebase, all while ensuring that all tests continue to pass.

• This cycle is repeated for every small piece of functionality until the feature is complete.

Key Characteristics of TDD:

• Developer-centric: Primarily a developer's practice, focusing on the internal quality, design, and correctness of individual code units (methods, classes).

• Unit Tests: Typically involves writing unit tests that verify small, isolated parts of the code.

• Design Aid: Forces developers to think about the design of the code before writing it, leading to more modular, testable, and maintainable code.

• Immediate Feedback: Provides rapid feedback on whether the code is working as intended.

2. Behavior-Driven Development (BDD)

Behavior-Driven Development (BDD) is an extension of TDD that shifts the focus from testing the code's implementation to testing the system's behavior from a user's perspective. It emphasizes collaboration between developers, testers, and business stakeholders using a common, human-readable language.

Key Concepts of BDD:

• Collaboration: BDD fosters collaboration between the "Three Amigos" – Product Owner/Business Analyst (who knows what is needed), Developer (who knows how to build it), and Tester (who knows what could go wrong).

• Ubiquitous Language: Uses a shared, domain-specific language that is understandable by technical and non-technical stakeholders alike. This often involves a specific syntax called Gherkin.

• Scenarios (Given-When-Then): Requirements and expected behaviors are expressed as scenarios using the Given-When-Then format:

  • Given: Describes the initial context or preconditions.
  • When: Describes the action or event that triggers the behavior.
  • Then: Describes the expected outcome or post-condition.

Key Characteristics of BDD:

• User/Business-centric: Focuses on how the system behaves from the perspective of its users and business value.

• Shared Understanding: Bridges the communication gap between technical and non-technical team members.

• Higher-Level Tests: While it can involve unit tests, BDD typically focuses on integration and end-to-end tests that verify features and user flows.

• Living Documentation: The executable scenarios serve as up-to-date documentation of the system's features.

3. Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD)

Definition: Acceptance Test-Driven Development (ATDD) is a collaborative approach where the entire team (including customers/product owners, developers, and testers) defines and agrees upon acceptance tests before development begins. These acceptance tests serve as precise, executable specifications of the desired functionality from the business perspective.

Key Aspects of ATDD:

• Customer-Centric Collaboration: Like BDD, ATDD emphasizes strong collaboration among stakeholders to define "what" the system should do from a business and user perspective.

• Acceptance Criteria: The core of ATDD is the creation of clear, unambiguous acceptance criteria for each feature or user story. These criteria are concrete examples that determine whether a feature is "done" and acceptable to the customer.

• Executable Specifications: These acceptance criteria are transformed into automated acceptance tests. Developers then write the production code that satisfies these tests.

• Shared Understanding of "Done": ATDD provides a clear, shared understanding of what constitutes a complete and correct feature, reducing misunderstandings and rework.

• Focus on Business Value: Ensures that development efforts are aligned with actual business needs and user expectations.

Relationship with TDD and BDD:

• ATDD vs. BDD: These two terms are often used interchangeably because their core principles and practices are very similar, especially the "Given-When-Then" format and the collaborative definition of executable specifications. Some consider BDD to be a specific implementation or evolution of ATDD, providing a more structured framework (like Gherkin).

• TDD within ATDD/BDD: TDD is often used within the development phase of ATDD or BDD. Once an acceptance test (BDD scenario) is defined, developers can use TDD to build the underlying code units that will collectively make that acceptance test pass. So, ATDD/BDD defines the what at a higher level, and TDD guides the how at a lower, unit level.

In summary:

• TDD: Focuses on developers writing unit tests for the internal design and correctness of code, using a Red-Green-Refactor cycle.

• BDD: Focuses on collaboration among all stakeholders to define system behavior from a user perspective using a ubiquitous language (like Gherkin's Given-When-Then) that results in executable specifications.

• ATDD: Very similar to BDD, emphasizing the collaborative definition of acceptance criteria as executable tests before development, ensuring the system meets business requirements.

They are complementary practices, and teams often use a combination of them to achieve high-quality software development.

Metrics in Agile QA Process

In an Agile QA process, metrics are crucial for providing continuous feedback, enabling informed decision-making, and driving continuous improvement.

Unlike traditional QA, where metrics might focus heavily on the number of bugs found at the end, Agile QA metrics emphasize flow, quality, and collaboration throughout the development lifecycle.

Here are the key categories and specific metrics commonly involved in an Agile QA process:

I. Quality Metrics (Focus on Product Quality)

These metrics directly assess the quality of the software being developed and delivered.

1. Defect Density:

• What it measures: The number of defects found per unit of size (e.g., per user story, per feature, per 1000 lines of code).

• Why it's important: Helps identify areas of the product that are more prone to defects and indicates the overall quality of the code and testing.4 A lower density is generally better.

2. Defect Leakage / Escaped Defects:

• What it measures: The number or percentage of defects found after a release (e.g., in UAT, production, or by customers) that were not caught during the sprint/testing phases.

• Why it's important: This is a critical metric for evaluating the effectiveness of the QA process. A low leakage indicates a strong "shift-left" testing approach and effective in-sprint quality assurance.

3. Defect Containment Efficiency (DCE) / Defect Removal Efficiency (DRE):

• What it measures: The percentage of defects found and fixed before release compared to the total number of defects (found before + after release).

• Formula: DCE=Defects found before release+Defects found after releaseDefects found before release​×100%

• Why it's important: Shows how effective the team's entire quality process (development, testing, reviews) is at preventing defects from reaching production.

4. Test Coverage (Code Coverage):

• What it measures: The percentage of the source code that is executed by automated tests (e.g., unit tests, integration tests).

• Why it's important: Indicates the thoroughness of the automated testing. While 100% isn't always feasible or necessary, a high coverage percentage for critical paths is desirable.

5. Test Case Effectiveness:

• What it measures: The percentage of executed test cases that revealed a defect.

• Formula: TestCaseEffectiveness = Test Case Effectiveness = (Number of Defects Found by Test Cases / Total Number of Defects) × 100%

• Why it's important: Helps evaluate the quality and efficiency of the test cases themselves. If many tests are run but few bugs are found, the tests might not be targeting the right areas or might be redundant.

6. Defect Severity Index / Distribution:

• What it measures: Tracks the breakdown of defects by their severity (e.g., critical, major, minor, cosmetic).

• Why it's important: Helps prioritize fixes and understand the impact of defects on the user experience and business. A high number of critical defects in a sprint is a red flag.

7. Customer Satisfaction (e.g., Net Promoter Score - NPS):

• What it measures: How satisfied end-users are with the product's quality and functionality.

• Why it's important: The ultimate measure of quality in Agile. Often gathered through surveys, direct feedback, or product usage analytics.

II. Process & Efficiency Metrics (Focus on QA Workflow)

These metrics provide insights into the efficiency and effectiveness of the QA process itself.

1. Test Automation Coverage / % Automated Tests:

What it measures: The percentage of automated test cases out of all possible/suitable test cases.

Why it's important: High automation coverage is crucial for sustaining fast feedback loops and enabling continuous integration/delivery in Agile.8

2. Test Execution Status / Pass Rate:

What it measures: The percentage of test cases that passed, failed, or were blocked within a given period (e.g., per sprint, per day).

Why it's important: Provides an immediate snapshot of the quality of the current build and the progress of testing.

3. Defect Resolution Time (Mean Time to Detect - MTTD, Mean Time to Repair - MTTR):

What it measures: The average time it takes to detect a defect, and the average time it takes to fix a defect once detected.

Why it's important: Shorter times indicate an efficient QA process and responsive development team, minimizing the impact of bugs.

4. Test Cycle Time:

What it measures: The total time taken to complete a testing cycle for a specific feature or release.

Why it's important: Shorter cycle times indicate a more agile and efficient testing process, allowing for faster feedback and delivery.

5. Requirements Coverage (Traceability):

What it measures: The percentage of user stories or acceptance criteria that are covered by test cases.

Why it's important: Ensures that all defined requirements are being adequately tested, preventing gaps in coverage.

III. Team & Flow Metrics (Broader Agile Metrics with QA Implications)

While not exclusive to QA, these metrics are vital for understanding the overall team's health and impact on quality.

1. Sprint Burndown/Burnup Charts:

• What they measure: Burndown shows remaining work vs. time in a sprint.9 Burnup shows completed work vs. total work.10

• Why they're important: Help track progress and identify if the team is on track to complete the committed work for the sprint, including testing tasks.

2. Velocity:

• What it measures: The amount of work (usually in story points) a team completes in a sprint.

• Why it's important: While not a direct quality metric, a consistent velocity indicates predictability. Erratic velocity can sometimes point to quality issues (e.g., excessive rework due to bugs).

3. Cycle Time / Lead Time:

• What they measure: Cycle time is the time from when work starts on an item to when it's completed.11 Lead time includes the time from when an item is requested to when it's delivered.12

• Why they're important: Indicate the efficiency of the entire development flow, including QA. Shorter times mean faster delivery of value.

4. Throughput:

• What it measures: The number of items (user stories, tasks) completed over a period.

• Why it's important: Shows the team's capacity for delivering features.

5. Failed Deployments / Rollbacks:

• What it measures: The frequency of failed deployments or rollbacks due to critical issues found post-deployment.

• Why it's important: A direct indicator of the effectiveness of the entire quality gate before release. High numbers suggest gaps in testing or release processes.

Important Considerations for Agile Metrics:

• Context is King: No single metric tells the whole story. Metrics should be viewed in combination and in the context of the team, project, and business goals.

• Focus on Trends: Individual data points are less important than the trends over time. Is the defect leakage going down? Is automation coverage increasing?

• Actionable Insights: Metrics should provide insights that lead to improvements. If a metric isn't leading to a discussion or a change in process, it might not be valuable.

• Don't Measure Individuals: Metrics should be used to improve the team's process and product, not to assess individual performance, which can lead to negative behaviors.

• Simplicity: Choose a few key metrics that are easy to track and understand, avoiding overwhelming the team with too many numbers.

• Transparency: Metrics should be visible to the entire team and relevant stakeholders to foster shared understanding and accountability for quality.

Advantages of Agile QA Process

The Agile QA process offers numerous advantages over traditional, sequential QA approaches, primarily by aligning quality assurance with the core principles of Agile development. These benefits lead to a more efficient, adaptable, and customer-focused software delivery pipeline.

Here are the key advantages of Agile QA:

1. Early and Continuous Defect Detection and Resolution (Shift-Left):

Benefit: Bugs are found much earlier in the development cycle, often within the same sprint they are introduced. Impact: This dramatically reduces the cost and effort of fixing defects. A bug found in requirements is much cheaper to fix than one found in production. It also prevents small issues from escalating into major problems.

2. Enhanced Product Quality:

Benefit: By integrating testing throughout development, quality becomes an inherent part of the product, not an afterthought. Impact: Leads to a more stable, robust, and reliable product delivered to the customer.

3. Faster Time-to-Market:

Benefit: Continuous testing and immediate feedback loops enable quicker validation and release of working software increments. Impact: Businesses can deliver new features and value to users more rapidly, gaining a competitive edge.

4. Improved Collaboration and Communication:

Benefit: QA professionals work closely with developers, product owners, and other stakeholders daily. Impact: Fosters a shared understanding of requirements, reduces misinterpretations, and accelerates problem-solving. Everyone is on the same page regarding quality goals.

5. Increased Flexibility and Adaptability to Change:

Benefit: Agile QA is designed to accommodate changing requirements and evolving priorities throughout the project. Impact: The team can pivot quickly if market needs shift, ensuring the product remains relevant and valuable without major rework or delays.

6. Higher Customer Satisfaction:

Benefit: Early and continuous delivery of working software, combined with regular feedback incorporation, ensures the product consistently meets customer needs and expectations. Impact: Builds trust and loyalty with users, as they see their feedback directly incorporated into the product.

7. Reduced Rework and Technical Debt:

Benefit: Early bug detection and continuous refactoring minimize the accumulation of technical debt (poorly written or unmaintained code). Impact: Saves significant time and resources in the long run by avoiding costly fixes and system instability.

8. Greater Predictability and Transparency:

Benefit: Metrics and frequent demos provide clear visibility into the progress and quality of the product at any given time. Impact: Stakeholders have a more accurate understanding of project status and can make informed decisions.

9. Increased Efficiency and Productivity:

Benefit: Streamlined workflows, automation, and shared responsibility help teams work more cohesively and avoid bottlenecks. Impact: Resources are optimized, leading to a more efficient development process.

10. Empowered and Motivated Teams:

Benefit: QA team members are integral to the development process, contributing from the start and seeing the direct impact of their work. Impact: This leads to higher morale, increased ownership, and a stronger sense of accomplishment within the team.

11. Leveraging Test Automation:

Benefit: The iterative nature of Agile necessitates and encourages extensive test automation. Impact: Automating repetitive tests frees up QA engineers to focus on more complex, exploratory, and high-value testing activities. In essence, Agile QA transforms quality assurance from a reactive, end-of-lifecycle gatekeeper into a proactive, embedded partner in the software creation process, leading to superior products and happier customers.

About DevAssure:

DevAssure is an end-to-end AI-powered no-code test automation tool, that helps software testers to perform seamless testing with just a few clicks.

Web, API, Accessibility, Mobile App, Visual Regression can be automated in just a few seconds. Moreover, DevAssure’s AI engine converts Swagger Docs, PRDs, Figma Mock-ups, image screenshots into test cases instantly.

Additionally, with the help of Yaan Ai, users can easily automate the generated test cases without the help of manually recording them. This also enables users to save a lot of time.

To explore how the DevAssure test automation platform can enhance your organization's testing capabilities, click the button below to request a personalized demo session with our team of experts.

Schedule Demo