Agile Testing - Things to know about

What is Agile? The software development lifecycle has got a new shape in past decade. Experts have experiments many new ways to increase the productivity of the process. They implemented many changes to the development process for better output. One of those changes was agile methodology. Agile means to do together. We know the importance of team i.e., together everyone achieves more. In agile methodology this concept has adopted for better performance. Fortunately this method work like a charm in IT industry and received tremendous support from the IT farms. Now almost all projects are implementing this methodology in the development process for better result. Let us see how it works.

Steps You Need to Follow while Testing an Application

Each business wants to get higher ROI by launching a software application that delivers flawless user experience. That is why; most IT companies, nowadays, adopt test-driven development approach. Likewise, many companies automate their testing efforts to ensure that the software meets the requirements of end users. Based on the enterprise’s objectives, the software testing strategies and process vary. However, it is always important for the testers to understand and follow some essential steps of software testing.

How Important Is Manual Testing These Days?

Before we discuss the importance of Manual Testing, at first let us know what actually it is. It is actually a process that is followed to detect and pick up errors as well as flaws within a particular software application. Since the detection is done manually, the individual who tests the application plays the most important role as an end user when it comes to verifying as well as evaluating the features or the behavior of the application in question under various circumstances. Though it is the preliminary stage of assessment, it is needed to be executed in a seamless way before switching over to automated testing.

The principal objective of non-automatic evaluation is guaranteeing that the application that is subjected to test is free of glitches as well as defects and is working perfectly as per the specification of the requirements. Now let us see how important this type of software evaluation these days really is.

At present, even as the concept of automatic testing is fast gaining momentum in terms of popularity, this has not rendered the concept of manual evaluation totally useless. In fact, prior to starting the automatic assessment of a software application, there is an ardent need of setting up a base that will decide when and how to start the automatic evaluation. It is manual testing that forms that base and here lies its importance. This form of software evaluation helps to understand the reason behind testing, the role of quality as well as its reliability and the risks that are involved in the evaluation. Besides, it also helps in a better understanding of the risks that are associated. It also helps improving the testability through evaluation of the risk factors.

Although, there are a lot advantages that are associated with automated evaluation of software applications, the manual version has still not lost its importance and relevance whatsoever. In fact, there are certain instances where the manual variety is more important than the automatic variety. There are a number of software packages in the market, which are released successfully after solely depending upon manual testing without any type of automatic assessment whatsoever.

However, experts are of the opinion that the best way to evaluate a software application is by setting up a perfect combination of manual and automated testing and this makes manual evaluation so important in today’s context. Though you will find a lot of discussions regarding the efficacy or importance of automated discussion, there are certain cases where the manual version is more effective as well as more important than the automatic one. A perfect combination of the two varieties would provide you an error free software application with no regression bugs and this will allow you to give more thrust towards further development and enhancement of the application in question. In fact, there are certain bugs that can be detected only with the successful manual software testing.

The basic issue of non-automated testing is to know how to use each and every technique for solving various problems. Frankly speaking, when it comes to assessing whether a particular application can be used by human, the best answer is non-automated evaluation. This is because in most of the cases, automatic assessment is not able to decide whether the text or the information provided can be apprehended by the end user and here is where the importance of manual assessment comes into play. Even if there is an automatic process to do so that will be expensive. Hence, the popular notion is that, though it can well be automated, it is more feasible to manually test those effects, as this will very much provide more confidence to the users as well as much cheaper in terms of time that is taken.

You can hire testers from top offshore software testing companies in India who can help you accomplish testing within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide qa testing services. If you would like to hire software testers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

Surviving the Top Ten Challenges of Software Testing

With the ever increasing innovations in the world of automated testing tools, a large number of organizations make the best possible choice, attempting to make the tools suitable for functioning in their environment. This article outlines the major challenges that are most often seen in organizations that struggle to make effectual automated testing a reality. The earlier these challenges are detected, the better prepared a company will be for the purpose of dealing with them.

Top Ten Challenges of Automated Testing and Solution Strategies

These challenging issues are presented from the least to the highest effect on the overall test automation system.

1. Purchasing the wrong tool

Solutions

• Take time before defining the tool requirements in terms of applications, people skills, technology, process and organization.
• Involve potential users in order to define evaluation criteria as well as tool requirements.
• Build an evaluation scorecard for comparing the tools' performance against a set of common criteria.
• Perform a POC (proof of concept) as opposed to an assessment.

2. Incompetent test team organization

Solutions

• In the testing team involve a test scriptor who is comfortable to work with code and capable of taking the basic testing which has been developed by a testing analyst.
• The person should also have the knowledge of converting it into an automated script.
• With basic scripting concepts initially start simply to add complexity later.

3. Lack of support management

Solutions

• Communicate that it takes planning and time to build a steady foundation of the right tools, processes and people.
• Present the challenges along with the benefits while making the case to management for acquiring testing tools.
• Reinforce management for carrying a good amount of influence in the way people are going to accept automated testing tools.
• Keep the management informed about tool progress and other related issues that arise.

4. Incomplete test type coverage

Solutions

• When evaluating tools, prioritize what types of evaluation are the most challenging to your success. Then evaluate the candidate tools on those criteria.
• Understand the tools as well as their tradeoffs. In order to get higher levels of type coverage of test, you may need to utilize a multiple tool solution. For example, you may need to combine the playback or capture tool along with a load test tool for the purpose of covering your performance test cases.
• Remind people that 100% test type coverage cannot be possible. However, after having 80% of the automation tests, you can manually deal with the rest.

5. Incompetent tool training

Solutions

• In the tool proposal include money for the purpose of training at least a core section of people.
• Choose the most applicable topics for training to match people.
• Organize tool training performed by a vendor at your location to use your own application as exercise.
• For 3 or 4 weeks, get a skilled consultant who is experienced in tool training.

6. Lack of acceptance and tool ownership

Solutions

• You are recommended not to cut the tool training. Training never guarantees success, but you may be at risk of technological abandonment without it.
• In your organization, include someone for the job of a tool smith. This person will be the resident expert on the testing tools.
• It takes the management to emphasize on the tool effort and usage is an essential part required for the testing process.

7. Lack of a basic understanding of test process or what to test

Solutions

Create a list of evaluation criteria for functionality that you are looking forward to considering while using the automated testing tool. These criteria include:

• Repeatability of tests
• Risk or complexity of applications
• Ease of automation
• Simplicity of operation
• Level of documentation of the functional requirements.
• Analyze your existing set of test scripts and cases to see which ones are most applicable.
• Examine your latest testing procedure and find out where it needs to be adjusted for applying automated testing tools.
• Try and make changes in the latest ways you execute tests.
• Involve professionals who will be using the tool for the purpose of helping in designing the automated testing method.

8. Lack of management processes of configuration

Solutions

• Consider the people as well as processes that are required to manage the test scripts or automated testing.
• Look for tools which accommodate changes gracefully to the user interface.
• Trace automated test scripts as part of the configuration set of an application.
• Include the potential automation test SCM person in evaluating testing tools and their respective offerings of test management.

9. Lack of tool interoperability and compatibility

Solutions

• Select tools having cross-platform capability as much as possible.
• Consider writing bridging scripts, as well as shell scripts possibly in non-proprietary scripting languages like Tcl.
• Critically evaluate whether the ability of performing cross-platform testing is a strong requirement.

10. Lack of tool accessibility

Solutions

• If obtaining a quality technical fit is an issue, find information regarding lesser-known testing tools by networking with other testers.
• Try and find tools that is going to work between platforms.
• Use free or low priced tools in order to investigate the possibilities of building your own testing tools.

It is important to understand that even the organizations that have developed core competencies in dealing with test automation also struggle with these challenges at times. Although, herein the challenges are only focused, there are a number of benefits that can be accomplished from test automation. Tools are a part of an efficient test approach, but not the overall approach. A workable process executed by motivated and trained staff is needed in a controlled environment. Successful software automation tests are possible if the basic issues are managed and addressed.

You can hire testers from top qa software testing companies in India who can help you accomplish testing within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide software testing services. If you would like to hire software testers from us, we would be glad to assist you at Mindfire Solutions.

The essence of Value-Based Care

That healthcare is changing at a fast pace is a reality all the stakeholders are coming to terms with. Irrespective of their preferences, they are left without a choice but to adapt. The transition taking place is evolving it from being proficiency-based art to a data-driven science. Physicians are shifting from being freelancers to being employed by hospitals. The delivery methods are changing from being one-size-fits-all community hospitals to vast hospital networks which are organized around centers of excellence. There is however, a certain level of criticism from the provider community towards this demand for change – almost to the extent of being reluctant to accept it. This could well be the result of their realization that the shift will finally result in better care outcomes for patient and less inflow of money for them. This is where the fraternity needs to take a step back and look at what lies at the core of their profession – that of helping people overcome their health related ailments. One cannot deny the fact that the profession has a certain degree of nobility attached to it. As much as it is important for physicians to gain financially, the overriding factor which draws people to take up this profession is expected to be a deep desire to serve humanity by curing people of their health related problems. Infact the ones who have realized it and connect to it are eagerly looking forward to days where they would have satisfied patients with lower expenses and they would be proud of their work. The tension which now exists between patients and physicians does not please the majority of the people in the profession and they would expect the new model to give way to trust and happiness for the providers. This is not to say that physicians are expected to lead lives of monks with no desire to gain financially from their services but to let money play the most important role in the system would be going against the core tenets of the profession.

In order to emphasize on this shift in focus from a volume to a value based care, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) incorporated value-based purchasing rules which tied acute care Medicare reimbursement of hospitals to quality performance starting in the year 2012. To give this approach a push, 1% of the payments under Medicare for 2012 was put aside and later given away as bonuses to those hospitals which scored above a certain score in some identified measures. Patient satisfaction was the determining factor for about 30% of the incentive payments while the rest 70% was based upon improved clinical outcomes. Noticing the positive difference the approach brought about, a further modification was brought in that resulted in enhancing the payment under the hospital value-based purchasing program (VBP) starting October of 2013. As per the new rule, there was an increase in the payment rates to general acute care hospitals by 0.9 percent, after allowing for other payment and regulatory changes. Although it was suppose to result in increasing the Medicare spending by approximately 175 million, its real benefit was the thrust it was expected to provide towards the adoption of a value based model. There are also penalties in place for hospitals for excess readmission for certain ailments like heart attack, heart failure and pneumonia unless they are planned ones. Also, moving forward there are likely to be more such rules in place to penalize hospitals for conditions acquired during the course of treatment. These steps are intended to bring about more focus towards infection control and prevention.

As much as the reasons appear compelling for moving to a value-based model, early experiments have shown mixed results. The success of value-based approach is hinged on making everything measurable and quantifiable and this is precisely where the hurdles start. Each patient is unique and so the impact of the same disease on a population is not going to be similar. With some patients, things might get a bit more complex resulting in higher expenses. Regardless of whatever incentives are created to make it move faster, a complete shift to this new model will take time. This is going to be driven primarily by the need to bring about some changes in the overall setup. For instance, it has to first and foremost start with getting the buy-in from physicians who are willing to embrace this approach. Furthermore, a successful transition from volume to value will require investment in advanced analytics and clinical information to evaluate performance data, as well as holding all stakeholders - clinicians, staff and patients, accountable for quality improvements.

We provide healthcare application testing & healthcare software development services. If you would like to speak to one of our certified software developers, please reach out to us at Mindfire Solutions.

Why should you consider 8 Types of Testing?

Software testing methodologies are in fact different approaches to testing, including procedures like unit testing, system testing and much more. So far as the methods of software evaluation are concerned, there is no formally recognized body present, and there is hardly any uniform set of definitions. However, there are certain common categories of testing. Before we learn about them, it is good to take a look at the five elements that are essential for software testing.

The five necessary things for software evaluation

• Test strategy: This is important for guiding you on the categories of evaluation that should be conducted, the sequence for performing as well as executing them, along with the optimal effort that needs to be put into every evaluation for deriving maximum effectiveness. An ideal strategy is usually based on the major requirements or information regarding what is significant to the clients.
• Evaluation plan: It involves the testing tasks, dealing with who will be conducting which tasks, along with the starting and ending time as well as the effort required. The plan provides a comprehensive list of the evaluation requisites, including the preparation done during each testing phase.
• Test cases: These are designed depending upon the strategy which confirms the amount of each evaluation that should be done. The development of the cases is based on the prioritized requirements along with the software's acceptance criteria. The quality and risk assessment parameters are also kept in mind.
• Test data: Along with the steps for test case execution, you are also required to systematically arrive at the test data to be used. This might often incorporate sets of product orders, addresses or names, or any other information the system leverages. Development of valuation data is usually carried out along with development of test case.
• Test Environment: The evaluation process definitely calls for the right place and the right equipment. Evaluation environments might be scaled down editions of the real scenario, but every part is required to be present so that the system can run efficiently.

Kinds of software testing to be considered

Considering the five essentials of software testing, let us now take a look at the different kinds of evaluation that can be taken into account. Broadly the process can be divided into two categories: Manual Testing and Automation Testing.

Manual testing involves evaluating the software without any kind of automated tool or script. The tester assumes the role of the end-user and evaluates the software for identification of any unanticipated bug or behavior. On the other hand, in automation testing, the evaluator composes script and makes use of another software to test the software in question. This procedure is often utilized to re-run the evaluation scenarios that were done manually, repeatedly as well as quickly.

Apart from these broad types, the process of software evaluation may also be categorized into the following major types:

• Black Box Testing: These evaluation procedures are based on functionality as well as requirements and not on the knowledge of coding or internal design.
• White Box Testing: This depends on the knowledge of internal logic pertaining to an application's code. The evaluations revolve around coverage of code statements, conditions, paths as well as branches.
• Unit Testing: This is in fact 'micro' scale of evaluation involving particular code modules or functions. The programmer and not the tester usually does this, as it calls for extensive knowledge regarding the internal program, code and design.
• Functional Testing: This category revolves around functional essentials of an application, and should be carried out by certified software testers.
• Integration Testing: Herein the combined components of an application are evaluated to determine whether they are functioning in unison appropriately. The components may be individual applications, code modules, server and client applications across a network, and so on.
• System Testing: Based on the requirement specifications as a whole, this procedure takes into account all of a system's combined components.
• Load Testing: This involves evaluating an application by subjecting it to heavy load, for instance, checking a website against load ranges for finding out under what condition the response time of the system fails or degrades.
• Usability Testing: Carried out to determine the 'user-friendliness', this subjective procedure depends on the client or end-user.

All these categories have one common aim- to ensure that the software runs effectively and renders the desired output. When all the five testing essentials are in place, the different evaluation types can be leveraged appropriately leading to organizational success.

We provide independent software testing services. If you would like to hire software test professionals from us or would just like to speak to one of our expert software testers, please reach out to us at Mindfire Solutions.

What Does It Really Cost to Fix a Software Defect?

While there is no denying the point that the advancements in software technology have brought about several benefits for the business enterprises all over, it is also true that certain defects in software are really hard to handle.

The later the defects are identified, the more difficult and expensive it becomes to handle them. This was said by none other than a software engineer called Barry Boehm back in 1976. He also drew a curve representing the consecutive phases of the waterfall software development lifecycle on the horizontal line. The vertical scale, on the other hand, denoted the relative cost of fixing the particular defect in a specific phase versus the cost involved in fixing the same defect in a different phase. With time, this curve was modified to make room for a second exponential relation.

Finding the Cost of Fixing a Defect

There are certain problems that arise when it comes to the fixing of a software defect. Out of these, deciding upon the cost of fixing the trouble happens to be the most important one. The actual cost involved in finding solution to a problem is often the least understood factor too. Now, the cost usually depends upon the development lifecycle as well as the development process that one chooses apart from the risk that the enterprise is ready to take. Estimation of the cost can be done by means of the following technique:

Considering that all the people working in a system test are completely dedicated to identifying and fixing defects, the number of fixes are to be taken into account. Next, the number of people including that of developers, testers and everybody else along with the duration of system test are to be considered. The process of calculation goes like this:

Average cost of fixing defects= Number of days* number of people* cost per person-day/ Number of defects that have been fixed

It is worth remembering in this regard that it is not the defects but the ones that are fixed that matters while also leading to the right calculation.

How Much Does It Cost?

The attitude taken towards fixing software defects often varies depending upon respective managers. Again, there is some confusion about when to find solution to which defect. Now, the cost of finding solution to the defects is influenced by the organizational culture and its implications. Here is a brief overview:

Routine Culture

In a routine culture, quality is considered valuable by the management but there is neither money nor the time to devote on improving the same. The problems are fixed only after quite a severe one has occurred. The easy defects are identified while the difficult ones are left out. As such, the cost of fixing a problem is the lowest of all.

Steering Culture

In a steering culture, the management realizes that quality is but a systematic issue and automatically, the task of managing is executed better. Problems are openly discussed as well as resolved in an orderly manner. The defects are found earlier than the system test leading to the creation of several bad fixes. Eventually, the cost of solving the problem is the highest among all.

Variable Culture

In a variable culture, the management usually does not consider quality to be a management issue. Personal efforts in solving problems are often preferred over a systematic approach, as a result of which, it is found that the employees identify more defects compared to what they could fix. Accordingly the average cost of fixing a defect is higher than that of a routine culture and lower than that of a steering culture.

Ways of Preventing Defects

Preventing the defects from arising in the very first place is essential for the simple reason that fixing them requires considerable effort, time and money. Early defect detection has a number of advantages. Following a list of some of the prominent ways in which the software defects can be checked:

• Analyzing the software requirements well beforehand is a significant way of preventing troubles. The specific customer needs are to be analyzed and then transformed into product specifications with expertise. Interactive sessions with the customers is helpful in this regard.
• Reviews, both self-reviews and peer reviews, work wonders in uncovering defects instead of finding them out later. Self-review, in particular, allows reduction of problems related to implementation of algorithms, incorrect logic and missing conditions. Many software organizations are making this a part of their best practices of coding.
• Documentation and defect logging leads to better management of the troubles as well as the depletion trends and costs. A defect logging tool allows correction of the problem, identification of the phase and so on.
• Analyzing the root cause can be done via applying local expertise and targeting the systematic errors. This largely helps in saving time and costs involved in fixing the troubles.

Having considered the above discussion, implementation of the defect prevention procedures into the application software testing process is the most difficult of all tasks. If carried out successfully, it can actually prevent the troubles from arising and pave the way for smooth operation of the enterprises.

We provide software testing services. If you would like to talk to one of our certified software testers, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

The future of Health Information Exchanges

Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) are expected to bring about a huge difference in the healthcare industry because of the nimbleness they are to suppose bring to data availability. This will also mean healthcare software testing will also pick up steam. There are some EHR vendors who currently offer the provision to physicians to exchange data with other practices which are registered to them. Some even go to the extent of offering all other features as are found in standard HIEs to them. But they are restricted in size and scale since it is only those physicians which are registered with the vendors which get entitled to draw the benefits.

HIEs go much beyond. These can be privately or publicly held and help in the transmission of clinical information from EHRs to participating physicians and providers. Most of the information is very holistic and helps in reducing the operational costs and improving the efficiency of practices. EHRs on the contrary hold a lot of information apart from the clinical data like demographics, allergies, laboratory reports etc. The potential benefits made available to group practices and physicians are many. By receiving and sending information, these entities benefit in a number of ways like

• Automation of their administrative tasks
• Availability of real time information at the point of care
• Transparency of processes
• Availability of Decision Support Tools
• Reduction in operational costs
• Qualification for Meaningful Use Incentives
• Increased Competitive advantage
• Improved quality of services

There are many other benefits offered by HIEs in addition to the ones listed above. However, it is not mandatory to find all of these offerings at a single HIE. It is left to the physicians to exercise their judgment before deciding to join one such organization. There are many reasons for the buzz around creation of HIEs. Needlessly to say that they enhance the degree of safety, quality and cost reduction otherwise possible without their usage. But one of the major driving factors has been the push provided by the Federal Funding.

Through the HITECH ACT, which stands for Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health, an amount of 2 billion dollars has been put aside by the federal reserve for creation and expansion of HIE infrastructure. HIEs fall under the purview of both the State, as well as the Federal government laws for finalizing the regulations of its operations esp. related to the privacy and security concerns of handling patient information. With the broad guidelines made available by the Federal government, the state laws determine the rules to be followed to set up the infrastructure, get the required certification to operate and specific ones for patient information protection. HIEs as such do not directly fall under the HIPAA act. But since it has to deal with entities which are covered by HIPAA e.g. providers, clearing houses etc. HIEs are expected to exercise and follow all the rules so as to comply with the privacy and security provisions as per the Act.

HIEs can act both as repositories and conduits for health information based entirely on the model that they want to follow. In the centralized model, data is stored in a central repository and is made available to members based on need. The advantage of doing this is that it leads to standardization of data. There are policies defined for ensuring this. In the federated model, the data stays at the source with HIEs providing pointers to them. This makes it possible for providers and physicians to get more control over the data unlike the previous one.

Overall, the involvement required by physicians in HIE governance is critical to their fraternity. From knowing how the model is developing in their states to how their data will be used, all this is important for physicians they decide to join one. There is one school of thought which is kind of making the physicians slightly apprehensive about their participation in HIEs. According to them, the data which is available with HIEs could be used to evaluate physicians or for profiling purpose. Thus all the more reason for physicians to know who has what access to the data available with HIEs and how is it supposed to be used.

We provide healthcare IT services. If you would like to hire healthcare software development experts from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.