After working as a Quality Assurance professional for over a decade, we’ve encountered numerous false ideas and misunderstandings about the role of QA experts. These misconceptions can cloud our understanding of QA’s importance in creating top-notch software.
Misunderstandings arise when we need a clearer grasp of certain issues. Some think quality assurance is straightforward, or anyone can handle it.
Even worse, there’s a belief that quality assurance services don’t contribute to saving significant time and money or boosting a company’s income and advantages.
Let’s uncover the most widespread misconceptions regarding QA in software development.
Misconception # 1: QA is a breeze — everyone can handle it.
Here’s a widespread misconception. It’s quite a tough job involving various software techniques, both manual and automated testing. Here’s what experts had to say:
- “QA testing performed with accuracy isn’t a walk in the park; it’s demanding and precise,”
- “It requires your QA crew to consist of people with proper know-how, dedication, and enthusiasm for spotting mistakes in the code.”
Remember, quality assurance is a method to uncover glitches that require your full dedication. Firstly, you’ll need to understand and explore the software before diving into quality assurance testing. QA testing poses challenges and requires individuals to be thorough and skilled to identify errors effectively.
Misconception # 2: QA doesn’t involve coding; it’s solely about spotting bugs or mistakes
Many believe that quality assurance testing doesn’t require advanced coding skills. This notion is far from the truth. Keep in mind that it’s a misconception.
You should be familiar with coding essentials like crafting intricate SQL queries, arranging test data sequences, converting codes to fit databases, creating scripts for automated testing, and handling other crucial aspects.
You must have a strong grasp of sophisticated coding techniques to create effective testing sequences and scripts. This proficiency also aids in uncovering software flaws.
Indeed, identifying bugs and errors is a significant part of quality assurance. However, that’s not the whole picture.
QA testers do indeed locate bugs, but QA engineers also strategize ways to prevent issues, enhance future issue detection efficiency, and ensure that identified problems are genuinely resolved.
In simpler terms, it’s not solely about spotting bugs; it encompasses preventing them and ensuring their effective resolution.
Misconception # 3: Quality Assurance Always Breaks the Bank
Here’s a popular myth, and we must admit, it’s quite a favorite. The idea is that QA slows down business processes, involves unnecessary roles and tools, and ultimately inflates project costs.
In reality, constructing solutions is an investment, plain and simple. We understand that developing a solution incurs expenses, with the expectation that it will yield profits in the future.
To achieve these outcomes, we must evaluate whether introducing or enhancing a product ensures high quality, aligns with our objectives, and delivers the desired business outcomes. QA becomes a vital piece of the puzzle if the aim is to trim operational expenses.
The notion that QA adds to the ‘extra costs’ couldn’t be further from the truth. A well-structured quality assurance process trims expenses by curbing business risks.
It prevents us from rolling out a solution that might harm the company or its clients. Furthermore, QA safeguards that fresh updates and modifications maintain the company’s competitive edge.
Considering all these aspects, having a proficient QA team brings greater value over the long haul.
Misconception # 4: Tester and QA Are Identical
Let’s put it like this: it’s time to rethink if you’re under the impression that “tester” and “QA” are interchangeable terms or mean the same thing. Testing is just one part of the equation.
Anyone can do testing, indeed. On the flip side, Quality Assurance (QA) goes beyond testing. It involves a strategic approach, outlining what needs to be tested and how. Testing is often about just using a product or service.
A tester’s role is to inspect software during its development to spot flaws and report them. In contrast, a QA takes on a broader role. They’re responsible for various tasks that ensure the software’s quality at every journey step. So, while testing is part of QA, they’re not the same.
Misconception # 5: It’s the Last Step.
Many of our clients mistakenly think that quality assurance is something you do right before launching a product. However, this belief is quite off the mark.
Quality assurance works best when it kicks off early in the development process. This way, you catch glitches early on and reduce the time needed to fix them.
Every developer claims that their software is flawless and requires no additional testing. But that doesn’t mean the testing journey is over.
It’s important to remember that some bugs can stay hidden in the software. While new features might bring these bugs to light, fixing them takes time. Nevertheless, this approach helps keep the product relatively steady, primed for deployment, and bug-free.
Misconception # 6: Quality Assurance Stops Every Mistake
This myth can be tough to handle, as we and our customers often believe that involving QA experts ensures a flawless product with no problems.
The code will always have issues, no matter who created it. This doesn’t reflect the developers’ skills; it’s just part of the process.
Some issues are already known, and then there are hidden bugs that QA specialists catch. The key to remember is that no product is ever truly done, and no code is ever completely perfect.
Sadly, the reality is that even with the best QA process, top-notch experts, and comprehensive system coverage, there might still be bugs that slip through.
Moreover, there is a chance of uncovering new issues after the product goes live. The entire QA process aims to cut down the risk of errors, not eliminate them.
As a core element of this process, testing doesn’t have a definitive end. It’s like a book — development is akin to writing the story, and we can clearly see its conclusion. Testing, however, is like reading a book. Once you’re done, you can start over again and still discover new things.
