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Quality Assurance Test Process

Quality Assurance Test Process: Welcome to the AutomatePro AutoTest Guide for ServiceNow QA, covering critical QA activities from planning and designing test cases to unit testing, managing defects, and conducting production smoke testing, with a focus on comprehensive documentation and best practices.

The Quality Assurance (QA) Test Process Workflow is designed to ensure a systematic and thorough approach to software testing, guaranteeing high-quality outputs. This workflow includes several key stages, each crucial for the successful testing and deployment of software.

1. Story Creation and Submission

To start, the process begins with the creation and submission of user stories. These stories define the requirements and features that need to be developed and tested.

2. Story Grooming: Pointing and Preparation

Next, the team performs grooming, to clarify details of the story as well as to assesses and assign points to each story based on its complexity and the effort required. This stage ensures that development work and acceptance criteria for stories are clear and well-prepared for the upcoming planning phase.

3. Planning Test Inventory Stories and Manual Tests

Following that, the team plans test inventory stories and manual tests to cover all aspects of the user stories. This includes identifying necessary test scenarios and preparing the test inventory.

4. Sprint Planning

During sprint planning, the team selects the stories and tests to be addressed in the upcoming sprint. This ensures that testing efforts align with development goals.

5. Designing Test Cases

Then, the team designs test cases based on the planned stories and tests. These test cases detail the specific steps and conditions for testing the software functionality.

6. Development and Initial Testing

Afterward, the development team codes the features described in the stories. They conduct initial testing to identify and fix early defects.

7. Delivering Unit Testing

Subsequently, the team delivers unit tests to validate individual components of the software. This step ensures that each unit functions correctly in isolation.

8. Hand-Off to QA

Next, the team hands off the developed features and unit tests to the QA team for comprehensive testing.

9. Running Story Tests

At this stage, the QA team Run Tests based on the user stories. Viewing Test Run Results to verify that the features meet the specified requirements.

10. Managing Defects and Changes Related Testing

The QA team manages to view and addresses any defects identified during testing. They perform related testing to ensure that changes do not introduce new issues.

11. Demonstration and Final UAT

Following this, the team conducts a demonstration and performs final User Acceptance Testing (UAT) to validate the software’s readiness for production.

12. Performing Production Smoke Testing

Next, the team carries out smoke testing in the production environment to verify the stability and basic functionality of the software.

13. Change Approval and Release

The team reviews and approves changes before the final release. This step ensures that all modifications are thoroughly vetted.

14. Release to Production

Subsequently, the team releases the software to the production environment, making it available to end-users.

15. Improving Test Library

Finally, the team continuously improves the test library with model blocks, regression test updates, user guides, and test packs. This ongoing process enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of future testing efforts.

The Quality Assurance Test Process receives handoffs from the Product or Process Owner of the Stories for development. The Grooming is typically done by the Process Owner, partnering with the Solution Architect and a Scrum Master Business Analyst or Business Process Consulting. Other Stakeholders on the team are the Developers of the Development Team. The QA Team for Testing.

This streamlined graphic and the following RACI Matrix clarifies roles and responsibilities across the different stages of the QA Test Process, ensuring effective collaboration and accountability.

Quality Assurance Test Process diagram illustrates the interactions between different participants in the work sequence owner process, from initial meetings and grooming to the final release to production.

Here is the updated RACI matrix with the Product Owner and Process Owner columns combined:

ActivityPOSolution ArchitectScrum Master/ EMBADev TeamQA TeamPlatform PO
Story Creation & SubmissionRCII
Story Pointing & PreparationACCC
Planning Test Inventory Stories & Manual TestsRCAC
Sprint PlanningICACRI
Designing Test CasesICCARI
Development & Initial TestingICICRI
Delivering Unit TestingICICRI
Hand-Off to QAICICRA
Running Story TestsICICA
Managing Defects & Changes Related TestingICICIA
Demonstration & Final UATICICA
Performing Production Smoke TestingICICA
Change Approval & ReleaseICICAR
Release to ProductionICICAR
Improving Test LibraryICICIAI

R = Responsible, A = Accountable, C = Consulted, I = Informed

Digital Transformation Center of Excellence: https://dawncsimmons.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Digital-Excellence-Through-Collaboration-1.png
Digital Center of Excellence: Business Process, Digital Transformation, and AI | Groups | LinkedIn

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