Just about every organization goes through times when the internal team cannot execute a testing project fast enough. Reasons range from the magnitude of the project, to lack of an effective test strategy, to staff positions going unfilled. The speed of Agile development and rapid delivery of product also increases testing technical debt.
Bringing in a consultant, a coach or strategically outsourcing some aspects of testing other professional services are great ways to innovate. Coaching and training can help you streamline process as well as update practices in strategy, such as action-based testing (ABT) and behavior-driven development (BDD). Many organizations are doing this. In fact, I spend about half my time providing strategy and test process consulting for other organizations; helping them get the necessary testing done in the most efficient way.
Automation is one area in particular where outsourcing can be extremely beneficial. You only have to look at the low success rate of automation projects to understand it takes special skills. It requires understanding both testing and programming. Getting outside automation help has enabled many organizations to leap to higher levels of productivity with increased confidence in the test effort. This is where automation is moving and it makes sense to look at outsourcing automation to move your team to higher levels of productivity.
Sometimes the hardest part is recognizing that you need help. We all want to think that just working harder or getting an additional resource to do what we’ve been doing is all that’s needed. Other times bringing in someone with a fresh perspective and knowledge of what other successful companies have done and are doing is a much better way to go. I contributed an article to LogiGear Magazine to identify when it’s time to get help (you can find it here). And, if you find yourself in that position, contact me: MichaelH@LogiGear.com — helping companies improve testing is what I do.
Michael is a Certified Scrum Master and has co-authored two books on software testing. Testing Applications on the Web: Test Planning for Mobile and Internet-Based Systems (Wiley, 2nd ed. 2003), available in English, Chinese and Japanese, and Global Software Test Automation (HappyAbout Publishing, 2006). He is a founding member of the Board of Advisors at the University of California Berkeley Extension and has taught for the Certificate in Software Quality Engineering and Management at the University of California Santa Cruz Extension. As a member of IEEE, his training courses have brought Silicon Valley testing expertise to over 16 countries."