How Does QA Work: The Main Principles

What is QA? Why use it?

Quality Assurance (QA) is one of the essential phases during software development. It’s the process of recognizing and maintaining set goals when developing products.

Experienced IT teams know that QA in software development isn’t simply testing or any other process; it ensures that the product has unique value and ensures that it meets the client’s requirements.

The core goal behind QA processes is making sure that the quality of the product is always in line with the client’s needs and requirements. QA professionals work not only on the development of the product but also on the implementation of said development to ensure that the team follows the correct procedures.

It helps businesses create products and services that meet their needs and requirements for customers. Then, it will create trust from their target audience, gaining more credibility for the business in the customer’s eyes – ensuring high-quality products and services.

By following the procedures that the QA software provides, teams can more efficiently prevent errors or defects before they are released and cost more than necessary. It’s a crucial and repetitive process to ensure continuous improvements and to prevent or at the very least minimize risks or defects.

 How does it work?

Quality Assurance uses two main approaches: defect and quality management. 

Defect Management

In QA, a defect is an attribute of the product that’s not within the client’s needs or requirements. Developers or managers can misunderstand those needs accurately, and that could lead to design errors, bad data management, buggy code or poor code execution.

The defect management approach mainly focuses on tracking said defects and organizing them by categories and by severity. QA Professionals usually create charts like Task Boards and Burndown Charts for the entire team, even the ones without IT experience, to understand the problem and what procedures to do.

Quality Management

On the other hand, the quality management approach focuses on checklists for six main traits:

1. Functionality

Are the main functions of the software working with no problems? Are they efficiently implemented? Is it compatible with various operating systems and the software system you’re using? Does it compile and manage data securely? Does it break any of the required guidelines?

2. Reliability

How easy can it be installed? Does it need other tools to function? How long does it take to boot up or do any of its functions? Does the software work differently under different conditions like a slower internet connection or any component failures? Are the system components easy to repair or replace? Can the system adapt to the said changes in conditions?  

3. User-Friendliness

 How much knowledge or effort is needed to understand the software’s functions? Can users understand it easily even with no prior knowledge? 

 4. Efficiency

 Is the coding structure of the software clean? Does it follow good coding practices? Is it designed to be efficient and easy to fix when errors or bugs are found?

 5. Maintenance

How often does it crash or break? How easy is analyzing and fixing the code when it breaks? Does it reboot itself or send bug reports whenever it crashes? How long does it take to reboot itself? Can it identify the main cause of failure? How much system power does it use when changes or reports are being made? Does it securely save or send the data or files stored when it breaks or crashes?

No matter which approach you use, it’s better to be open and transparent to your client. Allow the client to monitor your progress regularly to make sure it’s in line with their wants and needs.

Always provide proof and suggestions such as Live Demos, Quality Metrics, Charts, and Checklists. Requirements will sometimes evolve or change, that’s why using an open line of communication is also a crucial necessity during the QA phase.  

Why is QAwerk better than other competitors?

QAwerk is a company that offers a variety of QA services and testing focusing on QA development. Their job is to launch, support, and manage the best quality assurance teams to make your product flawless. 

With in-depth testing, they ensure your digital product succeeds and make sure that no bug spoils user experience or affects the business metric.

They also assure to decrease downtime and reduce testing time when you decide to outsource your QA process. They have proven with their multiple partners that their testing practices and test automation tools accurately address any issue and meet the business goals more efficiently.