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In the extremely complex and dynamic process of modern software development, the Quality Assurance (QA) function plays an absolutely crucial, even fundamental role, which goes far beyond the traditional understanding of testing as merely a stage of catching bugs. It is the QA team, in close cooperation with other project participants, that guards that the final product, which will end up in the hands of the users, is not only fully compliant with the defined functional requirements, but is also characterized by high stability of operation, optimal performance, an appropriate level of security and, what is extremely important, is intuitive, friendly and useful for its final recipient. However, even in organizations with dedicated, experienced testing teams and certain quality procedures in place, it is not uncommon to find that existing QA processes are not working optimally, are not delivering the expected results, or are not keeping up with the changing needs of the business and technology. Perhaps too many critical bugs are still finding their way into the production environment, generating user frustration and additional costs? Maybe the testing process is too long and inefficient, becoming a bottleneck and delaying planned deployments of new versions? Or perhaps the organization lacks a clearly defined, consistent testing strategy, effective automation of repetitive activities, or simply tools to support the work of testers? It is not uncommon, either, that the QA team itself may feel overburdened by excess responsibilities, undervalued by the rest of the organization, or lacking the proper competencies to deal with new challenges. All of these, and many more, symptoms clearly indicate that a company’s existing QA processes and practices need a thorough, objective analysis and the implementation of thoughtful, systematic improvements.
X-ray of your QA processes - How ARDURA Consulting helps you achieve quality excellence
“The average defect removal efficiency of most software organizations is about 85%, meaning 15% of defects are delivered to customers.”
— Capers Jones, Applied Software Measurement | Source
It is often the case that in-house teams, deeply immersed in their day-to-day operational duties, accustomed to certain patterns of operation established over the years and burdened by internal conditions, find it extremely difficult to look at their own processes in a fully objective ma
er, identify the real, often hidden causes of existing quality problems and develop effective solutions on their own. They lack a fresh, external perspective, an in-depth knowledge of the latest trends, tools and best practices used successfully in other, similar organizations, or simply the time and resources to conduct such a comprehensive analysis. It is in such not uncommon situations that the specialized QA process diagnosis service offered by the experienced experts of ARDURA Consulting adds invaluable value. This is a comprehensive, multi-faceted audit of your current practices, tools, strategies and culture in the area of software testing and quality assurance. It is conducted by our certified QA consultants with years of experience, and its overarching goal is to precisely identify existing weaknesses, inefficiencies, process bottlenecks and potential areas for significant improvement. Most importantly, the result of our diagnosis is not just a list of problems, but first and foremost providing you with concrete, practical, customized and prioritized recommendations for corrective and developmental actions. These recommendations are aimed at systematically improving both the efficiency (doing things the right way) and effectiveness (doing the right things) of your QA activities, leading to a real improvement in the quality of the delivered software and optimization of the entire software development process.
Why invest in a professional QA process diagnosis? Symptoms, needs and value of an outside perspective
The decision to conduct an external diagnosis of QA processes often stems from a growing awareness of certain problems or a desire for proactive improvement. Internal teams, despite their best intentions, may face difficulties in objectively evaluating their own work. They often operate within the framework of habits established over the years, and internal conditions, informal dependencies or even fear of criticism can make it difficult to identify the real causes of problems. Phenomena such as the “blind spot” (where certain problems are so common that they go u
oticed) or the “not invented here” syndrome (unwillingness to adapt solutions from outside) can effectively block progress. This is where the value of an external, independent expert becomes invaluable. ARDURA Consulting consultants bring a fresh, objective perspective, unencumbered by your organization’s internal considerations. They have a cross-section of experience gained from a wide range of projects and companies, which allows them to identify patterns, compare your practices with the best industry standards, and propose solutions that have worked in similar contexts. Their knowledge of the latest trends in QA, modern tools, methodologies (such as agile testing, BDD, exploratory testing, continuous testing in DevOps) and test process maturity models (e.g. TMMi) allows them to identify directions for development that your internal team may not have known about or may not have the resources to explore.
So when is an investment in QA process diagnosis particularly justified? It is worth considering it when your company is facing persistent quality problems, such as a high number of errors in production, frequent system failures, negative user feedback or rising defect handling costs, despite the existence and efforts of the QA team. Diagnosis is also extremely valuable before the start of a large, strategic technology project or before a planned transformation of manufacturing processes, such as when moving to Agile methodologies, implementing a DevOps culture, migrating systems to the cloud or introducing new, complex technologies. This allows early identification and addressing of potential weaknesses in QA processes that could jeopardize the success of these initiatives. Another reason could be the pursuit of a higher level of maturity in QA processes, for example, to achieve certification (such as ISO or TMMi) or simply to increase efficiency and predictability. Finally, diagnostics can address the need to optimize QA costs without sacrificing quality, by identifying inefficiencies, automating repetitive tasks or better managing risks. In each of these situations, ARDURA Consulting acts as a catalyst for positive change, providing objective data and specific guidance for improvement.
ARDURA Consulting’s QA diagnosis process: Step by step to a complete picture of quality and efficiency
To ensure the highest quality and value of our diagnostic services, we at ARDURA Consulting Consulting approach each audit assignment in a highly structured, methodical, yet flexible and collaborative ma
er. We always work closely with your team at every stage of the process, striving to obtain the most complete, multidimensional picture of the analyzed situation. Our diagnosis process typically involves several key steps.
The first, absolutely fundamental step is always an in-depth understanding of your organization’s unique business and technology context. We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all, off-the-shelf solutions, which is why we start every diagnosis with a detailed Discovery phase. The purpose of this phase is to learn about your company’s strategic business goals, understand the specifics of the products and services you create or maintain, and learn about the software development methodologies you use (such as Agile, Scrum, Kanban, Waterfall, or hybrid models). We also analyze the current structure of the IT team, the role and placement of the QA team in that structure, and most importantly, we try to thoroughly understand the software quality challenges, issues and pain points you have identified. To this end, we conduct a series of individual interviews and group workshops with key stakeholders in the project and QA process. We talk to product managers or Product Owners to understand their expectations regarding quality, functionality and delivery time. We meet with development team leaders to get their perspective on QA collaboration, the quality of requirements received, or the bug reporting and remediation process. We find it extremely valuable to talk to testers and QA specialists themselves, who share their daily challenges, problems with tools, processes or competencies. We also often involve representatives from the business, end users or technical support teams to learn about their direct experiences with product quality and their expectations of the quality assurance process. This stage allows us to build a solid foundation for further, more detailed analysis.
Then, after gathering contextual information, we move to the stage of a detailed, in-depth analysis of your existing QA artifacts, documentation, tools and actual QA processes. We take a close look at your formal test strategy (if any and documented), analyze sample test plans for various projects or releases, review the structure and quality of test cases (both manual and automated scripts), examine the form and content of test reports generated, and analyze in detail the defect lifecycle management methods and tools you use. We also verify the list and use of tools supporting testing processes, both those dedicated to manual testing (e.g. test management systems) and those for test automation at various levels, as well as tools for non-functional testing (performance, security). It is also important to analyze continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) processes in terms of how and at what stage quality assurance activities, such as automated test runs or static code analysis, are integrated into them. We assess the actual level, scope and effectiveness of implemented test automation, analyze the coverage of code and requirements by tests at different levels (unit, integration, system, acceptance), and verify whether and which quality metrics are systematically collected, analyzed and used for decision-making. An extremely important element of this phase is also an objective assessment of the efficiency of information flow, the quality of communication and the level of cooperation between the QA team and other key teams involved in the manufacturing process, such as developers, business analysts, UX designers or business representatives.
From problem identification to concrete, practical solutions: What does an ARDURA diagnosis uncover?
Based on all the information gathered through interviews, workshops and in-depth analysis of artifacts and processes, our experienced QA experts proceed to synthesize and identify key areas that need improvement or fundamental change. These areas can relate to very different, often interrelated aspects of the entire QA process. In our many years of auditing and consulting practice, we often encounter some recurring problems and challenges in our clients’ organizations. Among the most common are the **lack of a clearly defined, written and communicated testing strategy throughout the organization **, leading to inconsistent, ad hoc testing activities and a lack of clear quality objectives. We also often diagnose insufficient or suboptimal test coverage of business-critical areas of system functionality, which exposes the company to serious risks. Inefficient, haphazard management of test cases and defect lifecycle is also sometimes a problem, resulting in wasted time, duplication of work and difficulty in tracking progress. It is also very common to involve testers and QA specialists too late in the software development process (e.g., only at the stage of acceptance testing), leading to extremely costly detection of fundamental design or architectural errors at a very late stage, when they are most difficult and expensive to fix. In many organizations, we also find **a low level or ineffective, poorly planned implementation of test automation **, which results in overburdening the team with manual testing and slowing down the release cycle. Other common problems include a lack of adequate, modern tools to support the testing and quality management process, or inappropriate use of tools already in place. It is also not uncommon to be challenged by insufficient competencies or staff shortages in the QA team, especially in terms of new technologies (such as testing mobile, cloud applications or AI-based systems), modern testing methodologies (e.g. agile testing, BDD, exploratory testing) or advanced automation. Finally, very often the source of quality problems is poor, ineffective communication and insufficient cooperation between the QA team and developers, leading to information silos, mutual misunderstandings and a lack of a shared sense of responsibility for quality. Of course, these are just some of the potential problems - each diagnosis is unique and tailored to the specifics of the organization.
A diagnostic report and practical roadmap for improvement: Your personalized guide to QA transformation
The final, highly significant result of our QA process diagnosis is a **comprehensive, detailed report that presents all the key findings of our analysis in a clear and understandable ma
er**. This report not only lists the identified problems, but more importantly points out their potential root causes, documents the observed strengths of your current processes (which are worth nurturing and developing), objectively scores the diagnosed weaknesses and inefficiencies, identifies existing process bottlenecks, and points out potential risks associated with maintaining the status quo. Most importantly, however, and what constitutes the greatest value of our service, the diagnosis report contains specific, practical, implementable and appropriately prioritized recommendations for improvement measures. These are not vague buzzwords, but precise guidelines on what and how to change in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your QA activities. These recommendations can cover a wide variety of aspects, for example: implementing a new, comprehensive testing strategy tailored to your business goals and product specifics, optimizing the defect lifecycle management process, introducing or changing specific tools to support testing and quality management, significantly increasing the scope or improving the efficiency and strategy of test automation, proposals to change the QA team’s work organization or structure, implementing new, more relevant quality metrics, or conducting dedicated, specialized training for QA team members and developers. All our recommendations are always carefully tailored to the unique characteristics of your organization, its current financial and resource capabilities, existing organizational culture and strategic business goals. We present them to you during a dedicated workshop meeting, discussing each identified problem and proposed solution in detail, answering all questions and concerns, and jointly discussing the optimal plan for implementing the changes. The result of such a meeting is often the development of a kind of roadmap for improving the QA process, which in an orderly and realistic way defines the next steps on the way to achieving a higher level of quality maturity.
Benefits of an external, objective diagnosis of the QA process: Investment in future quality and efficiency
The decision to have your quality assurance process diagnosed by ARDURA Consulting’s external, independent experts brings a number of tangible, measurable and long-term benefits to your company. First and foremost, you gain a fully objective, fresh and insider-free perspective on your current processes, practices and tools. This external perspective, free from entrenched habits, internal dependencies or informal arrangements, often allows you to see problems and opportunities that are invisible to those immersed in an organization on a daily basis. Second, you get direct access to the unique knowledge, extensive experience and familiarity with best practices of our high-level QA professionals, who work with a wide variety of clients, technologies and methodologies on a daily basis, are familiar with current industry standards and can effectively adapt proven solutions to specific needs. Third, through our methodical analysis, you identify not only the symptoms, but more importantly the specific, actual root causes of existing software quality problems. This allows you to implement much more effective, long-term corrective and preventive measures, rather than just ad hoc “firefighting”. Fourth, as a result of the diagnosis, you get a clear, concrete and prioritized roadmap of necessary improvements, which, step by step, will help you systematically improve the maturity, efficiency and effectiveness of your internal QA processes. All of these elements ultimately lead to significant and sustained improvements in the quality of the software you deliver, a reduction in the time it takes to deploy new features and products (Time-to-Market), a significant optimization of the costs associated with error detection and remediation (Cost of Quality), and a perceptible increase in the satisfaction and confidence of both your customers and end users, as well as the IT team itself, which can work in a more efficient, predictable and less stressful environment. In addition, streamlined QA processes often lead to better risk management, easier compliance with regulatory requirements, and a stronger overall reputation for providing top-quality solutions.
In conclusion, if you feel that your company’s QA processes could function better and more efficiently, if, despite having a dedicated QA team, you are still struggling with recurring quality problems, delays or rising costs, or if you simply want to make sure that your operations in this extremely critical area are fully compliant with best, global practices and standards - a professional, independent diagnosis of the QA process conducted by ARDURA Consulting’s experienced experts is an excellent, strategic first step in the right direction. It’s not a cost, but an investment - an investment in an in-depth understanding of the current situation that allows you to identify problems at their true source and implement effective, long-term improvements, leading to the systematic development of the highest possible quality software, providing a solid foundation for the success of your business.
Do you want to objectively assess the effectiveness of your organization’s quality assurance processes? Need support in identifying areas for improvement and implementing testing best practices? Contact the QA team at ARDURA Consulting. We will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis for you and help you build QA processes that will become a real pillar of quality for your digital products.