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How to increase the velocity of Sprint testing

In a fast-delivering agile world, there is a need for increasing the speed of the testing without compromising the quality. Sometimes, MVP (Most Viable Product) releases have a timeline of 45 days. In such a short span, requirements, wireframes, solution design, build, testing, SIT, UAT, security testing, and implementation should happen in time.

Also, as part of cost-cutting well established organisations are reducing testing costs by performing sprint testing in a “one layer above and one layer below” passion.  SIT and UAT are combined as IAT (Integrated Acceptance testing).  So, there is a lot of emphasis on sprint testing in an agile world for delivering a quality product.

When can we start sprint testing??

We can start sprint testing from the very early stage of the project life cycle i.e right from the program increment (PI) planning by considering dependencies/blockers and risks.

Inflight testing

Before the start of a sprint, we may be given a demo of requirements and solution design. We need to perform an impact assessment of new features to the existing code/systems/data and then plan inflight testing accordingly.

Static testing

Performing static testing on the requirements, solution, and wireframes can help to uncover bugs in the early stages of the life cycle.

Test preparation- “Three Amigo session”

Business, Developers, and testers use a different lens while digesting the requirements. If we allow all of them to work independently, they may blame each other for the understanding gaps at the end. “Three amigo session” is one solution for this. It is a meeting set up by a tester where a quick test preparation is done on the fly under the presence of BA, dev, and tester.

Automation

BDD framework like cucumber is the most suitable automation framework for sprint testing. If UI is unstable then we can go one level below and automate the API testing. Based on cost and time parameters, we can do progressive automation and integrate with DevOps pipelines.

Test Execution:

We can start testing whatever that’s readily available. Sometimes, back-end changes get delivered by other scrum teams in future sprints. We can still test UI/API code built by our scrum team by stubbing the back end.  Once, full integration is established we can do early integration testing by covering a few important features and handover the build for further testing like IAT. However, it takes a good coordination effort between testing teams to start IAT testing in parallel with sprint testing.

Sprint Demo:

To uncover UAT bugs upfront, a sprint demo can be given to the business at the end of every sprint.

I wanted to conclude by saying “Sprint tester needs to have craftmanship in every role while building a project.”

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Importance of Test Automation in the Agile World

Test automation is becoming increasingly important in today’s fast-paced, agile development environments. Accelerated product release requires accelerated coding, which needs accelerated testing. Every time an application (or updates to the application) hits the market, it needs to be perfectly functional for each user. The ability to quickly and efficiently test code changes is crucial for maintaining the quality of a software product and ensuring that bugs are caught and fixed early in the development process. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of test automation in an agile world and how it can help your development team work more efficiently and effectively.

In traditional software development methods, testing is often done manually, which can be time-consuming and error-prone. Automation testing, on the other hand, allows for the automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks, such as regression testing. This means that the team can focus on more important tasks, such as writing new code and fixing bugs.

One of the main benefits of test automation in an agile environment is its ability to provide fast feedback on code changes. In an agile development process, code changes are made frequently and rapidly, and manual testing can become a bottleneck in the development process. Automated tests can be run quickly and consistently, allowing for faster feedback on code changes and reducing the risk of introducing bugs into the codebase. This helps to ensure that the code is of high quality and ready for release to the end user.

Another important benefit of test automation is its ability to save time and resources. Automated tests can be run in parallel, which helps to speed up the testing process and allows developers to focus on other important tasks. This can be especially beneficial for large, complex codebases where manual testing would be impractical or impossible. Additionally, automated tests can be run on a schedule, allowing for regular testing without the need for manual intervention.

Test automation also helps to improve the overall efficiency of the development process. When tests are automated, developers can be confident that their code changes will not cause any problems in other parts of the codebase. This helps to reduce the risk of bugs and improves the overall reliability of the software product. Additionally, test automation helps to ensure that new features and functionality are implemented correctly, and work as expected.

In conclusion, test automation is an essential tool for maintaining the quality of a software product and ensuring that it meets the needs of the end user. It allows for faster and more efficient testing of code changes, saves time and resources, and improves the overall efficiency of the development process. If you’re not currently utilising test automation in your development process, it’s worth considering how it can help your team work more effectively and efficiently.

Vinitha Kumari B

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Sugar-Free January

What’s a birthday without a cake?

What’s Christmas without candy canes

What’s Diwali without Gulab Jamun?

In our eyes, it would be an occasion that isn’t celebrated to its fullest! In short, some of our happiest and most important festivities in life are celebrated with sugar and sweets. It’s no secret that this tongue-tickling ingredient is everywhere from a basic bread loaf to a carton of milk!  

Whilst it’s common knowledge that excess consumption of sugar can lead to heart disease, obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure; it’s easy for us to say that in the corporate world for one to live with less sugar is a far-fetched goal.

However, here at Adactin, we have some role models who have taken up this NO SUGAR challenge, so why not get some guidance from the experts?

Our Chief Operations Officer (COO) Sapna Bhatia is not only one of the core founders and leaders here at Adactin but is also one of the members of Adactin Group’s health committee. Sapna was an early adopter of the NO SUGAR CHALLENGE and till today practices and continues a lifestyle with healthier habits in moderation.

Sapna says “Everyone has chocolate cravings and I’m no different but my tip is if you’re craving chocolate, opt for dark chocolate instead! If you’re used to sweet coffee then add cinnamon, I promise you these tricks will satisfy the cravings and also help you reduce your sugar intake”

Adactin Group’s General Manager – Samrat Biswal has also been on a sugar detox, he believes cutting sugar out of his diet makes you aware of what you’re eating and has given him more energy! Samrat took up this challenge and was only consuming natural sources of sugar via whole fruits!

Samrat believes “Fruit is really a miracle food. It’s not only delicious but full of nutrients. So yes, it’s possible to eat fruit and satisfy your cravings”

So yes, it is a human tendency to crave sugar after a tedious day of work however many things can be done to not only fight your cravings but also to prevent them.

Drinking water consistently throughout the day is an excellent method as dehydration can cause cravings. This can be achieved by having a water bottle at your desk or setting up an app to give you regular reminders to drink water. Getting at least 8 hours of sleep and eating a healthy and filling meal instead of starving yourself can also help prevent cravings. It’s easy to lose track of your meals and sleep especially while working or being sedentary during busy times. However, it’s extremely important to take care of your mind and body as a poor sleep schedule has been proven to impact your immune system.

Another approach could be to take a brisk walk outside during lunch or morning tea breaks which can help you clear your mind of any excess stress.

We believe that giving in to a craving will just feed the addiction. However, if you manage to remain diligent and resist, the cravings will get weaker over time and eventually disappear.

Marketing team

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Business Analysis- The future of today’s business

What is Business Analysis?

Business analysis (BA) is not a single methodology. Instead, a Business Analyst uses various skills, tools, and techniques to clarify and define a business problem or an opportunity. A BA requires working closely with all stakeholders and developing a solution that fully meets the business needs of today and tomorrow.

According to IIBA, “Business Analysis is the practice of enabling change in an organisational context, by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders.”  

When is a Business Analyst required?

Companies bring business analysts on board not just to help facilitate solutions to problems and create business strategies but also to prepare the staff for the upcoming changes and reinforce those changes once they’ve taken place. However, driven by the rise in project complexity, business analysis is a crucial competency to a project’s success. Be it a SCRUM or waterfall, the business analyst wears various hats and is involved throughout the lifecycle of a project, except for Coding.

Does a Business Analyst propose a solution?

No. A Business Analyst is not responsible for delivering the solution, implementing the solution, and ensuring the solution is made available on time. However, they can help the business to assess the proposed solutions to determine how closely they meet stakeholder and solution requirements.

A Business Analyst will:

Determine the actual need of an organisation

  • With BA: The business needs are understood so that the work is focused on the right problems.
  • Without BA: Work is wasted on solutions that don’t meet the actual underlying needs of the organisation.

Ensure the business is prioritising the right projects 

  • With BA: The expected value of the work is well understood and affordable for the organisation.
  • Without BA: The return on investment is not clear; stakeholders have conflicting expectations.

Define the project scope and defines the path to meet both short and long-term goals

  • With BA: Clear current and future scope are defined. The right stakeholders are represented, contributing their information to meet the goals.
  • Without BA: A lack of visibility into project tasks resulted in operational and financial overruns causing stakeholders to consider ending the project. Important stakeholders are missed; their information or goals are not well represented.

Perform process gap analysis

  • With BA:  Identify the current process and propose business process improvements.
  • Without BA: Organisations may not have the chance to assess if things are working as efficiently as possible.

Assist the Project Manager in planning the right stories for the Sprint (SCRUM)

  • With BA: Requirements are well understood, so the right efforts and scope can be defined.
  • Without BA: Work is wasted on the wrong efforts; a different strategy could have achieved more.

Assist the technical team in providing the right solution 

  • With BA: An appropriate solution was selected, designed, tested, and well supported.
  • Without BA: The solution does not meet actual needs; it is difficult or costly to test, operate, or support.

Overall, in today’s Agile world a BA will ensure smooth communication and standards between a vendor and a business. This is important as the consistency of standards and communication ensure greater clarity about the requirements, which leads to a far greater project success rate and a higher quality end-user experience.

To contact us and see how our highly skilled BA team can assist your business, get in touch today via Info@adactin.com

Shanmugaraj Swaminathan

Business Analyst – Adactin Team

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Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

What is Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

The process of automating business operations with the help of robots to reduce human intervention is said to be Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Robotics are entities that mimic human actions are called Robots. A process is a sequence of steps that lead to meaningful activity.

RPA provides organizations with the ability to reduce personnel costs and human error. RPA tools have strong technical similarities to graphical user interface testing tools. These tools also automate interactions with the GUI and often do so by repeating a set of demonstration actions performed by a user. RPA tools differ from such systems in that they allow data to be handled in and between multiple applications, for instance, receiving emails containing an invoice and extracting the data.

For which application areas is Robotic Process Automation (RPA) useful?

RPA Examples in Healthcare

RPA is a technology that leverages software robots or just bots, to execute high-volume repetitive tasks in a digital environment. Given the algorithmic nature of RPA bots, they are a perfect fit for taking care of tedious scenario-based tasks that is healthcare system is choke-full of.

Use case 1: Appointment Scheduling

Closely linked to electronic records, appointment scheduling is a time-consuming task that could be performed by RPA. The automated workflow can be like this:
• An RPA bot offers appointment slots to a patient according to their needs and the availability of a doctor.
• Once the patient has booked an appointment, the bot schedules it in the database and removes that appointment slot.
• The bot also notifies the patient via email, confirming the appointment details.

Use case 2: Billing and processing

Billing and claims processing are typically very repetitive. These processes can be automated using RPA, with bots handling claims management, including first-line inquiries or follow-ups. The automated workflow can be like this:
• An RPA bot recognizes payment details using optical character recognition (OCR).
• Then it logs into the accounting system and inputs data into the relevant system’s fields.
• Once the invoice is created and registered in the system, the bot emails it to a patient.
• If there’s a delay in payment, the bot can also send a customized reminder to the patient and create a report on the reminders sent with the current payment status for a finance manager.

What are the benefits of Robotic Process Automation (RPA)?

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