Software Testing Metrics: A Review of the Essential Metrics Outlined by QASymphony

Anyone who has ever overseen or otherwise been involved with a software development team as it goes through the various phases of testing is quite likely to already possess a deep appreciation for the detail-oriented approach that must be applied to these processes. In creating a testing process that is both efficient and effective throughout each and every phase requires a comprehensive understanding of the multitude of factors that will ultimately influence the level of success achieved by the development team. One of the most critical aspects of this process is the selection of the specific metrics upon which the testing team and its managers will rely as they attempt to accurately measure progress and productivity.

It is not as though there is a limited number of metrics available to software developers, testing teams, and those charged with overseeing the different phases of software development. In a perfect illustration of the breadth of metrics available to testers, QASymphony recently published an article — “64 Test Metrics For Measuring Progress, Quality, Productivity & More!” — in which the software testing and QA tools company outlined the metrics it views as particularly essential throughout the software development and testing process. The article represents a truly comprehensive review of the full range of metrics a testing team might select in order to measure the progress and productivity being made as well as the overall quality of the results the team has thus far achieved.

This is an article every test team manager should carefully review and then bookmark for future reference, as it dutifully discusses every aspect of the testing process and outlines the individual metrics considered most essential for the measurement of various testing tasks as well as the prediction of future testing and development outcomes. The article delves into each relevant subject — tracking and efficiency, effectiveness, coverage, economics, team metrics, execution, effectiveness of change metrics, and defect distribution — with tremendous detail as well as substantial analysis and explanation, thereby providing testers and team managers with an exceptionally valuable resource.

In focusing on the specific utility of each individual metric, the article ensures that the data collected during each phase of the software development and testing process is properly utilized according to its intended purpose: To improve every aspect of the development and testing process from beginning to end.

With such a wide range of result, predictive, derivative, and absolute metrics available to testers and test team managers, it is clearly necessary that every specifically selected metric is incorporated in a manner that results in enhanced efficiency and productivity benefiting all of the various parties involved. To achieve enhancements in efficiency and productivity across all phases of the development and testing process, team managers and testers should begin by carefully reviewing the article published by QASymphony, as the information provided therein can serve as a foundation for the development of a deeper and more nuanced understanding of the most essential software testing metrics currently available.