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  • How Software Testing Helps Reduce Development Cost

    How Software Testing Helps Reduce Development Cost

    Every company wants to find ways to keep costs to a minimum while also producing the highest quality produce or service. Software development is no exception, and software testing is a critical part of reducing costs.
    Many people feel that testing is essential for user experience and producing a quality product but see it as an additional expense in the process. The truth is that software testing can help keep development costs to a minimum and ensure that a business maximises profits.
    This article explores exactly how software testing reduces development costs and why it should be a priority for you and your team.

    The Price Of Software Failure

    No matter the type of software you are working with, failure is going to be costly. Many companies underestimate the financial cost of a bug or fault in their programme or application.
    For many teams, it seems like something of minimal significance when the bug goes unnoticed, but afterwards, a bug can cause a lot of problems. Software errors can destroy large amounts of work, impact the overall quality of the product, and reduce customer satisfaction.
    All businesses depend on satisfied customers to make their money, and unhappy customers can be an expensive problem. Failing to properly test software and pushing out updates that are buggy and prone to errors will ultimately impact your brand reputation and put consumers off for good.
    It is always better to invest in excellent software testing than save on testing and have to try and save your reputation later down the line. Put simply; software failures will result in a financial loss.
    In the US, businesses lose roughly $60 billion every year because of software bugs, according to the Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.
    Just one little bug that is picked up during the early stages could cost just £100 to resolve, which is minimal in the grand scheme of things. However, if that bug is left throughout every development stage and goes into production, it could cost over £10,000 to fix.
    The earlier a software error is picked up, the easier and cheaper it will be to eliminate. Thorough software testing is critical for software development and keeping costs to a minimum.

    The Benefits Of Software Testing

    There are so many reasons why software testing and quality assurance should be at the heart of your development process. It simply isn’t possible to create reliable, effective software with QA and testing, and you will only be able to develop the best products when you are focusing on these areas. Some of the key benefits of investing in software testing are:
     

    • Save Money: We have already covered how expensive a software bug can be for a business. The more errors and bugs you have in your software, the more expensive it will be to resolve. By investing in adequate testing and QA, you can keep your costs to a minimum. It is far cheaper to detect bugs in the earliest development stages with QA testing than to try and fix them further in the process.

     

    • Prevent Catastrophes: It isn’t just the cost of resolving bugs that you need to consider when it comes to corporate software products. An error in this software could have huge consequences such as a complete system blackout, missing data, or collapsed communication. For many organisations, these scenarios could be tragic and very damaging.

     

    • Gain Customer Trust: With so much competition in software today, customer loyalty is everything. You need to make sure your customers trust and rely on your software to keep them from switching to a competitor. If your products are buggy and error-prone, they will quickly lose confidence in your company.

     

    • Improved User Experience: User experience is so important in software, and it all comes down to testing and QA. Customers do not want to have to download multiple updates just to have a product that works well, so make sure your user experience is fantastic from the offset with adequate testing. Software testers are skilled in enhancing the customer experience and will undoubtedly improve your overall user experience.

     

    • Improved Profits: Business is all about maximising your profits and growing your bottom line. When your product is of the best quality, thanks to software testing, you can reasonably charge a higher price. This will be more than enough to cover all the testing expenses and additional costs while also keeping customers happier.

     

    • High Productivity And Efficiency: Software testing will help improve the efficiency of the entire development process and enhance your overall productivity. With QA testing in place, each development stage will go smoothly and quickly, finishing up with an excellent result.

     

    Automated Testing And Development Costs

    Automated testing is more popular than ever before and can help reduce development costs even further. With automation, software testing time is dramatically reduced, and straightforward, repetitive tests can be completed in seconds.
    Automated testing doesn’t work for every testing stage or operation, but, for some situations, it can save a huge amount of time and investment. You can use automated testing to save on:

    • Test cases which need to be repeated multiple times.
    • Monotonous and tiresome test cases that take up a lot of time.
    • Testing multiple devices, browsers and environments for each test case.
    • Running multiple test cases with different conditions.

    If you are ready to improve your software testing and reduce your development costs, you need to ensure your team is well-trained and skilled in testing. At TSG Training, we provide online and classroom training courses to cover everything you need to know about software testing.
    Your team can learn all about automated testing with an Introduction to Test Automation, or you can help them to achieve a BCS Certificate in Software Testing, which is perfect for anyone involved in practical software testing. For more information, contact our team today.

  • COVID’s Impact On Agile Project Management

    Agile project management has been at the forefront of the software development world for over twenty years. It has revolutionised the way software is delivered and developed.
    Over the years, agile methodologies have spread to other industries because of its undeniable success. Any project with a specialist-client structure can benefit from agile project management.
    The COVID pandemic has dramatically changed the way all of us work and in a very short space of time. Because most major countries across the globe enforced lockdowns and stay at home messages, millions of teams had to adapt to working differently.
    Agile project management is all about concrete deliverables and frequent communication between the team. This is so that challenges and scope changes can be understood and addressed by all. Suddenly, finding entire teams out of the office and working remotely has significantly impacted agile project management.
    Today, we are looking at how COVID has impacted agile approaches and how this is evolving future working practices.

    The Rise Of Virtual Meetings

    One of the key features of agile project management is having regular, face to face meetings. This is because it gives the whole team the chance to catch up on the project and communicate where it is at. Most agile businesses hold daily face to face meetings where they brainstorm and decide on the next iterations of the project.
    Because of COVID, these in-person meetings became impossible for most businesses. Suddenly, teams were not working from the same locations, and everyone had to adapt quickly.
    Businesses have utilised video conferencing technology to continue these regular meetings and keep their projects on track. Zoom and other virtual meeting platforms have been essential because they allow agile teams to stay in contact.
    For many organisations, virtual meetings are set to continue as the norm even in a post-COVID world. It is likely that going forward, agile project management will be a blend of online and in-person communication.
    Many teams will prefer to meet in person during the discovery stages of a project. This is because creativity and ideas can flow more freely when everyone is in the same room. During the planning and delivery stages, virtual meetings are often more than suitable to conduct regular updates.
    Technology advances have made it easier than ever for agile teams to communicate every stage of the project remotely. Video demonstrations, screen sharing, and virtual libraries are all useful tools for agile project management.
    Although remote meetings were an emergency response to COVID in 2020, many businesses have learnt the benefits they can bring. Because teams can work productively from home, many are more willing to work on projects outside of standard business hours. This opens up a new realm of opportunities because teams can collaborate with experts and customers from all over the globe.

    Improving Data Management Processes

    Agile project management revolves around delivering large projects in small iterations. Because of COVID and virtual working, many businesses are discovering that collecting and organising client data right from the start of the project is crucial.
    When in-person meetings are not possible, it is essential that teams know how to access and deliver the relevant data for the project. Agile project managers now know they must ask the right data questions and organise that data appropriately.
    Data management practices like this are becoming more and more common in agile project management. They can benefit both the business and the client because it is easier to reach the deliverables. Teams are informing one another of early goals using accurate data sets.
    Data annotation tools are a popular choice for project managers because they help prepare for new software builds. Data modelling software is another technology that many teams are adopting. It works by cleaning the client data before analysing it for the project scope.
    Being able to provide clients with data visualisations at each stage of the project is another huge benefit. This means they can visually understand the process and offer their constructive feedback.

    Focusing On Change Management

    Segmented, regular delivery of software features to the client is the basis of agile methodologies. Because of this, several iterations of each project is a must. The COVID pandemic has left many businesses working just to stay afloat, so many clients will be seeking direction for their change management strategies going forward.
    Agile project management encourages collaboration and flexibility already, so project managers naturally work in this way. Thanks to COVID, agile project managers will now be expected to go above and beyond the project’s parameters. This is so they can assist clients with looking at the bigger picture and their business intelligence.
    With more of a focus on change management, projects will be able to better support the business infrastructure. The main focus for many organisations going forward is going to be how to recover and support their daily operations in a post-pandemic world.
    Agile project managers will need to adapt the way they work with clients so they can meet their changing needs. They should act as a guide for clients regarding technologies that will help them maintain their new software.

    Adopting Agile For A Post-Pandemic Future

    Here at TSG Training, we are experts in agile project management and offer a wide selection of training courses. Whether you are a project manager with years of experience or new to the agile world, we have got a course for you.
    Our training options are available as either online or classroom learning so that you can fit them around your daily commitments. Some of our most popular agile training courses are Agile Scrum Foundation eLearning, ISTQB Advanced Agile Technical Tester and an Introduction To Agile Testing.
    Our agile training courses can help you navigate a post-COVID world and learn the essential skills you need to progress in your career. For more information and advice on our training courses, get in touch with our team.

  • Using AI To Increase Project Management Maturity

    No matter the industry, company size or business model, every organisation has goals. Running a business successfully is all about finding ways to reach these goals efficiently so you can increase revenue.
    Years ago, simply having a dedicated project management strategy in place was enough. Because businesses are not always straightforward and face many challenges, project management maturity is now essential.
    In this article, we are looking at what project management maturity is, how AI can support it, and the barriers you could face along the way.

    What Is Project Management Maturity?

    Project management has been around for years, and because of its benefits, it has been adopted by many companies. Project management maturity is an extension of this process, and so is quickly becoming the norm. It is a method for managing the effectiveness of business decisions, strategies, and processes.
    The maturity level for each business will depend on the industry as well as short and long term goals. In addition to this, project management maturity depends on available resources, current strategies, and the project’s scope.
    Businesses can improve their project management maturity using artificial intelligence (AI). Because these technologies work to augment your capabilities, they can help your team to work more efficiently.
    AI brings many benefits to project management maturity; however, it hasn’t been adopted as quickly as you might expect. There are many reasons for this, so we are going to look in detail at how AI works for maturity and why some companies are preventing widespread adoption.

    How Is Artificial Intelligence Used In Project Management?

    AI is a vast area that covers a lot of varying solutions and tools. Machine learning is part of artificial intelligence, and it is great for use in project management. This is because machine learning algorithms can take data from existing projects and use it to build estimates of future project requirements.
    Aspects such as resources, project length, budget, staff scheduling, and risk management can all benefit from artificial intelligence.
    Machine learning techniques can build strategies that are based on existing data from other projects. These tools are effective because they can reduce the overall project cost and increase efficiency.
    There are some other aspects of artificial intelligence that can also help with project management. Many tasks are extremely time-consuming but simple to automate. Basic project management tasks like scheduling meetings, booking rooms, and filing reports can all be automated using AI.
    Artificial intelligence virtual assistants are the best options for these tasks because they can reduce the workload of a project manager.

    How Can Artificial Intelligence Improve Project Management Maturity?

    Companies that use artificial intelligence methods in their project management generally achieve higher project maturity levels. A survey from Villanova University reveals that a massive 81% of businesses are being impacted by AI, and 37% consider adoption of these technologies to be a top priority.
    A separate study found an obvious correlation between companies using AI and those with higher maturity. Those with level 1 maturity, at the beginner level, do not see themselves as advanced in artificial intelligence. On the other hand, leaders at level 5 did consider themselves advanced in AI.
    Because of this, we can conclude those beginner companies are likely to be using very basic AI if any at all. Leading companies are using AI to its fullest. This includes gathering actionable insights, analysing data, and understanding how to apply this to the project.

    Why Can Adopting Artificial Intelligence For Project Management Be Challenging?

    The adoption of AI in project management has been relatively slow, and this is because there are a few barriers in the way. Some of the key challenges include:

    • People: There are a lot of misconceptions about artificial intelligence and what it is capable of. Because of this, many businesses do not understand the benefits it can deliver. If project managers cannot visualise how AI will fit with their strategies, then they will be reluctant to adopt it.

    At the same time, many project managers are hesitant to release control. This is even more true when it means handing over control to a technology they do not fully understand.
    Even companies that are keen to utilise AI will face some barriers. Because artificial intelligence is still a relatively new industry, there is a high demand for talent. Businesses must be able to find the right blend of talent for both AI and project management so that both can work well together. There is a delicate balance between training existing staff and hiring external talent.

    • Processes: Project management maturity uses standard processes in order to achieve the end goal. A business with level one maturity will have no standard processes in place. Level two companies will have a handful, but these will work on a per-project basis instead of being well-structured.

    As you raise the levels, the processes become more complex and standardised. The most mature organisations will be making specific efforts to review, measure and improve processes.
    The more efficient the process, the more successful the project will be. Similar can be said for AI adoption in project management. Low levels of uptake will see simplified insights which are not analysed.
    Higher levels of AI adoption will give businesses the data to create predictions, plan ahead and manage risks. Low-level organisations are often put off using AI because it won’t give the results they want. This is a barrier caused by their processes and not the technology.

    Can AI Improve Your Project Management?

    Ultimately, AI has the potential to greatly improve project management maturity. At TSG Training, we offer various training courses in both artificial intelligence and project management. With our specialised training, you can learn how to increase your project management maturity using AI. Whether you are already knowledgeable on the subject, or a complete beginner, we have a course for you. You can choose to learn in the classroom or online, and our team are always on hand for advice. Get in touch to find out more.

  • How DevOps Can Help Your Business Win In 2021 & Beyond

    DevOps has quickly become one of the most popular productivity trends in the software industry. Because of the complexity of DevOps strategies, it can be confusing to get your head around. This is particularly true if you have never seen DevOps implemented during software development before. If you are new to the concept of DevOps, then you might be wondering how it works and why you should use it.
    The DevOps strategy is all about improving communication between IT operations teams and development staff. However, it isn’t as straightforward as just encouraging these departments to work together. Every business will use DevOps slightly differently, so ultimately, the way it works is down to your teams. When you choose to adopt DevOps strategies, your corporate culture will need to adapt so that everything shifts from top to bottom.
    When you start using DevOps strategies properly, you will see your systems improve, and efficiencies increase. Because of the productivity aspect of DevOps, it is very successful at reducing the overall production costs of a project. This article looks at how DevOps can help your business win in 2021 and beyond:

    Improve Employee Relationships

    DevOps is all about friendly collaboration between software developers and IT operations. It doesn’t guarantee that these teams are going to become good friends, but this strategy will improve employee relationships.
    When you start using DevOps, every team works towards the same goal, so there is no reason for disagreements. By improving team morale, you can increase productivity and speed up work processes. These improvements can result in increasing profits for the organisation.

    Fast Project Deployment

    Any business which is able to release a product ahead of competitors will win the majority of the customers. It is crucial that your company is releasing products quickly and without any bugs or errors. Because even a one or two-day delay can ruin your plan, DevOps focuses on keeping your project on track.
    Software development is always going to be subject to some problems and mistakes. Using DevOps for your deployment strategy means that it is easier to identify and resolve these issues. Because DevOps helps you fix problems in the building stage, it means that there isn’t likely to be any major changes in the testing stage.
    Everything should be working to the project specifications, so the testing stage should only find minor errors.

    Enhance Your Customer Experience

    Having the ability to deliver quality software products in less time will enhance your customer experience. Your customers will have more trust in your brand and your ability to offer support. Because a successful DevOps implementation will satisfy your clients, you can expect to see a rise in sales too.
    Consumers who trust a business are also more likely to recommend them to friends and family. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools, so make sure you are using DevOps to your advantage.

    Quick Problem Solving

    The key focus of DevOps is getting developers and operations teams to collaborate together. Because of this, it is easier for your teams to identify problems and find a solution. Your software products will not need to repeat the same processes time and time again before going to market.
    Ultimately, your problem-solving processes will be cheaper and use up fewer resources. Therefore, your business can focus on new, innovative features and developing advanced products. You will no longer need to spend a lot of time fixing bugs and problem solving because this will have been done during production.

    Encourage Business Growth

    By bringing two key parts of your business together, DevOps can help to grow your company. When you integrate your operations and development, you have one team taking care of each stage of the project lifecycle. Development, testing, and operations are handled by one DevOps team, so everyone is working toward a common goal.
    DevOps technologies can help to automate certain processes, which will give these teams even more freedom. Automation can support rapid business growth because it cuts down the slow, manual processes. When you use DevOps, your business will have the tools to evolve rapidly.
    Adopting a DevOps strategy for your business is not a magic solution for all your current problems. However, it is an effective way of boosting collaboration, reducing costs, and encouraging IT and developers to work well together.
    With DevOps, your business will be able to create successful applications and software. The development process will be faster than ever before and at a lower cost. All this can give your teams room to focus on innovation and come up with new ideas.

    Create Business Wins With DevOps

    If you are considering moving your business over to DevOps strategies, then your whole team needs to be on board. At TSG Training, we offer DevOps courses that can help you and your business develop the necessary skills.
    Because we understand the complexities of DevOps, we are here to support your business. Some of our most popular DevOps courses include:

    • DevOps Foundation Certification Training: This course focuses on collaboration, integration, and automation in order to improve workflows. Both developers and IT operations teams will benefit from this foundation course. Based on the syllabus set out by the DevOps institution, trainees will learn DevOps concepts and the basic principles. This course aims to inspire trainees to be the advocate of change within their business.

     

    • SAFe DevOps Certification: On this two-day course, delegates will learn all about the role of DevOps. Focused on aligning with a SAFe enterprise, this course is a deep dive into how to use DevOps to improve time to market. There are no prerequisites for this course, but we recommend trainees have a minimum of six months of practical experience working in software teams.

     
    For more information on how DevOps can help your business in 2021 and for guidance on our courses, contact our team. Our training experts can answer your questions and provide specialist guidance.

  • Quality Assurance: Five Crucial Activities For Software Testing

    Quality assurance is a crucial part of software testing. Many organisations fail to complete formal reviews until it is too late. For excellent quality assurance, you must have review processes at each stage of the software development and testing process. This can help you to identify areas for concern early on and address them accordingly.
    Most software testers will follow a formal quality assurance and testing process, which is a great option. However, in addition to this, there are a few other things you can do to improve the overall quality of a piece of software. These are our top five crucial activities for software testing;

    Five Must-Do Software Testing Activities

     

    1.Focus On Quality Assurance From The Beginning

    Do not leave it too late to start focusing on quality assurance for your software. For a successful product, you should involve quality assurance engineers from the very beginning. At the initial stages in the software development life cycle, let your quality assurance professionals in on your plans and processes going forward.
    By focusing on quality assurance earlier, you can identify possible complications early on. If you can highlight the parts of the software that are likely to be prone to bugs from the beginning, then you can efficiently manage these going forward. Because quality assurance is such a crucial part of software testing, there are no downsides to focusing on it early.
    Leaving quality assurance to the final stages of the development cycle can be very problematic. If issues are raised when the software has already been completed, then the design might not allow the necessary changes. Late involvement of quality assurance can force you to have to compromise on other areas.

    2.Properly Plan The Full Testing Process

    Software testing all comes down to planning. Make sure you create testing plans which are specific to each level of testing because this will provide the detail you need. Plan unit testing, system testing and more individually, so each area is getting the attention it needs. Each testing level must emphasise how the project plan and testing schema will apply.
    Within these test plans, you should include the scope of testing. This is because it will help with quality assurance further down the line. The criteria for completion of each testing stage also needs to be specified in the plan. This criterion is vital for determining if each level of testing is complete and so can be marked off.

    3.Prioritise Documentation At Every Stage

    Documentation is one of the most important parts of the testing process because it sets out exactly what has been done. It will support software testers in getting in-depth details of the project and understand the ins and outs. Quality assurance relies on documenting the project from initial requirements right through to software testing.
    It is common for documentation to be dismissed during the early stages because it is deemed unnecessary. The truth is, documentation must be taken seriously right from the start so that the project can run smoothly. Failing to document everything early on can result in critical problems in the later phases. If new developers or software testers join the project, then they will need proper documentation. It will ensure everyone involved is on the same page and help new team members get up to speed easily.

    4.Encourage Communication Between Quality Assurance And Development

    All too often, we see a communication gap between software developers and quality assurance professionals. This is because the priorities and focus for both of these teams are very different. Software developers will be satisfied if a piece of software works once, while those in quality assurance are happy if the software fails once. With such differing goals and areas of focus, it is only normal for a communication gap to develop.
    Encouraging ongoing and open communication between the two teams can avoid misidentified defects and a lack of knowledge. Because the communication between quality assurance and development can impact the overall productivity of a software project, it is crucial that it is encouraged.
    Transparency throughout the entire project is a must so that everyone is on the same page. Schedule in regular meetings in order to keep track of the status of the project.

    5.Know The Domains Well

    Quality assurance teams need to understand the software from the user’s perspective. This means they must have a good understanding and level of knowledge over the domain. Take some time reviewing any online resources for the domain where the test application is based.
    It is often worthwhile for quality assurance teams to have training about the domain or speak with the domain experts. Specialists in this area will be able to offer advice and guidance to quality assurance professionals. Failing to know the domain well will result in the quality assurance process taking longer and possibly failing to pick up on all errors.
    Doing all of these activities can help your team deliver high-quality software time and time again. Because quality assurance is one of the most crucial parts of the software testing process, putting appropriate time and effort behind it is a must.
    At TSG Training, we offer a range of online and classroom courses on software testing. You can choose from a vast selection of software testing courses, including BCS Certificate in Software Testing, Foundation Level Test Techniques are more.
    If your software testing team needs some guidance on quality assurance or other areas of testing, we are here to help. Get in touch with our team of experts so we can get started on recommending the best options for you. We will get to know your requirements and team so that we can suggest the most appropriate training plan.
    Whether you have been working in software testing for years or are new to the subject, we have the training for you. Our classes are available as both online and classroom training, so you can choose a method that suits you. Contact us today.

  • The Vital Role Of Software Testing In All Areas Of Business Is Significantly Undervalued

    Software testing is one of the most undervalued areas of development, and it has a significant impact on businesses of all sizes and across all industries. Whether you are wondering why you need to invest in software testing or you are a software tester yourself, understanding the value behind the role is critical.
    Software development projects come in all shapes and sizes, but no matter the scope, proper testing is essential. Software testing can save your business money, improve security and ensure ultimate customer satisfaction. Today, we are taking an in-depth look at the vital role of software testing and why it is so undervalued.

    Why Should Developers Be Paid To Test Their Work?

    A lot of business owners who do not understand the ins and outs of software development ask this question. Many don’t understand the need to allocate a software testing budget because they are already paying for the development.
    The truth is, testing an application is incredibly time-consuming and complex. Because of this, appropriate time, care, and attention need to be taken, and it is only possible with an appropriate budget.
    A great example is an eCommerce platform, which is a very complicated application. There are millions of gigabytes of data, lines of coding and various integration points that are all intertwined. With so many moving parts, it is easy for something to go wrong.
    Customers will use eCommerce solutions across many different browsers and devices, so making sure it works perfectly on all of these is so important. There are unlimited scenarios for software testers to identify and check, and just one failure in an eCommerce site could be very costly to a business.
    Ultimately, software testing is not a one-size-fits-all process. There are various areas to consider, and each brings its own value to a project. It is also important to remember that software testing is not a fixed entity because you can do as much or as little as you want. The more software testing you do, the less risk of failure in the application.
    To properly understand the value that software testers bring to a business, we are looking at the various types of testing:

    Smoke Testing

    Smoke testing is one of the most common types of software testing. It uses a pragmatic set of tests that cover the complete user journey and all of the functions across the application. Developers should always conduct smoke testing before handing over a project, as they can highlight key areas for concern or improvements.

    Unit Testing

    This type of software testing involves small ‘units’ of the code. It tests each unit to make sure that they are working as expected. For example, if a customer completes a form on a website, the data should be securely saved into a database.
    Unit testing will test this standalone functionality of this specific element. Because of the nature of unit testing, software testers will generally only use it for key areas of an application, such as the core functionality.

    Regression Testing

    Developing a piece of software is an ongoing task, and regression testing is a critical part of this evolving development. Regression testing checks if changing one aspect of an application causes issues with another function. For example, changing the forms used during a checkout process could also impact contact forms.
    Regression issues are extremely common, so this type of testing is vital for guaranteeing a good user experience.

    User Acceptance Testing

    Also known as UAT, User Acceptance Testing is one of the most essential parts of the testing process. Usually, it is the last phase before an application can go live.
    During UAT, the developer hands over testing to the client so they can complete full end-to-end testing. It involves creating test cases for a manual tester to run through, and then they can either pass or fail each case individually.
    UAT testing is probably the most time consuming of all the software testing types because it involves testing all functions. It isn’t uncommon to have more than 500 test cases for an application.
    Despite its importance, UAT is probably the most underrated testing process of them all. When timelines become tight, it is the area that usually suffers the most, but that can lead to serious functionality issues down the line.

    User Interface Testing

    User Interface (UI) testing is another extremely time-consuming part of a software testers role. This is the part that tests an application across all kinds of devices, browsers and operating systems. Because there are so many possible combinations of systems, testing them all is impossible.
    UI testing uses automated processes to test a vast number of variations very quickly. This kind of automated testing can undertake a pre-scripted journey for your application and check if everything works as expected with various setups.

    Performance Testing

    This kind of software testing determines the number of users, traffic, requests and orders an application can handle. It involves load testing the production environment so that you can realistically see the performance capacities.
    In order to accurately complete performance testing, it is critical that you mimic real-life user behaviours. Because real users can be fairly unpredictable, this is not an easy task. Carrying out accurate performance testing is crucial for ensuring the application doesn’t become overloaded and fail.

    Security Testing

    Security testing is an ongoing process for all websites and applications and should generally be completed twice a year. It ensures a website is secure and safe and can protect a business from potentially harmful cyberattacks. With cybercrime becoming increasingly prevalent, security testing is more important than ever before.
    It is clear to see that software testing covers a vast range of areas. From making sure your security is up to date and working properly to checking functionality across a range of devices. Appropriately testing your software is one of the most critical parts of the development process and certainly not one that should be undervalued. To find out more about software testing, discover our range of training courses online now.

  • Survey Finds Biggest DevOps Obstacles Are Organisational

    Over the last 15 years, DevOps has developed from an initial idea to an entire movement. It works to break down the siloes between operations and development and results in faster, more efficient software delivery.
    Because of the nature of DevOps, applications are completed quicker and often with improved reliability. This methodology is now used across thousands of organisations and so is becoming more commonplace every single day.
    Despite its popularity, DevOps is not without its drawbacks, and a recent survey has revealed that the biggest obstacles for DevOps are organisational as opposed to technology-related.

    What Are The Biggest Obstacles For DevOps?

    Test automation platform provider, Mabl recently surveyed 600 IT professionals to understand the barriers to adopting DevOps practices.
    Those surveyed were quality assurance and software development professionals from all across the globe. Because of their in-depth knowledge and experience with DevOps, they were the best audience to provide crucial insights into the practices.
    Results from the survey revealed that non-technological issues were the key inhibitor for DevOps. 82% agreed that the main obstacles for DevOps practices are organisational as opposed to technological.
    Not only that, but just 11% of those that completed the survey stated their company has fully implemented DevOps. 24% said that they were working towards achieving fully implemented DevOps practices and were most of the way there already.
    It is interesting to see that the reasons behind this slow adoption of DevOps is mainly because of organisational constraints. Slow processes and speed of adaption was the main barrier for 29% of respondents, while budget and funding were chosen by 21%.
    Just 18% of those who completed the survey said that technology limitations were an issue for implementing DevOps practices.

    The Reality Of DevOps Practices

    The survey unveiled that almost half of people (46%) are able to implement continuous integration. 36% said they have implemented continuous delivery. When it comes to continuous deployment, more than a quarter of people (27%) said they had achieved this.
    Despite this, just one-third of those surveyed revealed that they deploy new codes at least once a week, and almost half deploy these less than once a month. 15% of development teams deploy new codes once a day or more. A similar number (16%) deploy codes once a quarter.
    When it comes to software testing, 42% of people automated their user interface (UI) and functional testing. Because of this, these are the most commonly automated types of testing.
    Regression testing came in next, with 41% choosing to automate this process, followed by 35% automating integration testing.

    The Most Popular DevOps Tools

    When asked about testing tools, Selenium was the most widely used as 41% chose this option. Cypress was in a very distant second place at 14%. Testing application programming interfaces or APIs were also included in the survey.
    The most popular was Postman, compared with SoapUI, which was chosen by 21% of people. Homegrown tools made up 17% of APIs used. GitHub is the most commonly chosen DevOps tool because 34% opted for it. Jenkins was a close second at 33%, and then GitLab at 21%. The least commonplace but still popular tools were Azure Pipelines with 20% and Bitbucket with 19%.

    What These Results Mean For DevOps In The Future

    It is clear to see from these results that a lot of companies are very resistant to change. Some teams have been developing software in the same way for many years, and so change is a real challenge.
    Not only do business leaders and IT professionals require some convincing of the need for change, but this needs to run down to operational teams and individual developers.
    The co-founder of Mabl, Dan Belcher, has said it is obvious that many businesses have a long way to go in order to completely embrace the best practices of DevOps. It has become a question of to what degree will they adopt these practices as opposed to if they ever will.
    All kinds of organisations across all industries are dependent on applications and software. Because this is the backbone of almost all business processes these days, the focus on timely delivery and quality products will only increase. Belcher noted that the stakes in the delivery of software have never been higher, so now is the time to get it right.
    Adopting DevOps is likely to come down to competitive pressure forcing the issue on hesitant businesses. Any companies which don’t act fast to keep up with demands will start seeing their rivals pull ahead.
    The teams which adopt DevOps practices are likely to deliver better experiences with their software, which will create a business advantage. Now is the time for companies to adapt to DevOps or risk becoming irrelevant compared to the competition.
    In order to properly adopt DevOps and use it effectively within an organisation, your entire team needs to have a solid understanding of the practice. At TSG Training, we offer a range of DevOps training courses so your team can get up to speed with processes and ideas. Some of our most popular online DevOps training courses include:

    • SAFe DevOps Certification: This two-day course offers a deep dive into the world of DevOps and its competencies. After completing this course, you will have a good understanding of DevOps and how to improve your time to market.
    • DevOps Foundation Certification Training: For DevOps beginners, this course is the perfect option. It is a complete introduction to the world of DevOps and brings it right back to basics. Learners will see an emphasis on collaboration, communication, integration and automation.

    In addition to our online training courses, we also offer a selection of free webinars and whitepapers. These provide useful insights into DevOps and how your business can use it to the best of its abilities. For more information about DevOps training and how to adopt DevOps for your company, speak with our team of specialists today.
     

  • Seven Ways To Encourage A More Agile Work Culture (And Why You Should)

    It is no secret that we live in a fast-paced world where things change extremely quickly. The technology we use has a massive impact on our lives in both work and leisure. Some of the things we rely on today and take for granted didn’t exist at all a decade ago, so it is clear to see how important keeping up with technology is. This fast-paced society brings both challenges and opportunities with it, which agile working is designed to tackle head-on. Agile methodologies are used across a wide range of industries and bring with them many benefits. Flexibility is one of the most critical parts of an agile work culture. It is essential that you can adapt to meet the evolving demands of your team and business. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this flexibility and adaptability are more important than ever. Many businesses are making changes to work in a more agile fashion, and these seven tips can help.

    Ensure A Safe Environment For Innovation

    Employees will only be able to be truly innovative if they have the confidence to make mistakes without major consequences. An agile business will constantly create new solutions to problems, so having the freedom for creativity is crucial. All the leaders within your business need to create an environment where agile workflows are free to thrive. Agile is all about flexibility and ongoing improvements, so create a culture where your team can innovate and sometimes fail without fear. It is also essential to ensure everyone is learning from these failures and moving on and improving.

    Provide Autonomy And Trust

    In order to promote an agile work culture in your business, you must give your team the autonomy they require. This includes having trust that your employees are going to do their jobs, both remotely and onsite. You will never be able to create an agile culture if your team do not feel like you have trust in their work. Because of so much uncertainty going on at the moment, flexibility is critical. Your teams must be able to work autonomously with confidence in order to create an agile working world.

    Hold Daily Meetings

    In agile methodologies, regular scrum meetings are held to keep a project in check. This is an idea that all businesses, no matter the industry, can adopt. Hold a short daily scrum meeting every morning to kickstart the day. During this meeting, talk freely about the specifics of a project, including any challenges or roadblocks that individuals might be facing. Scheduling a time for this meeting every day can help teams with flexible work schedules stay in touch and up to date.

    Reward Productivity With Time Off

    Agile culture is all about flexibility and freedom, so providing this to your teams is critical. With the right kind of structure in place, workforces can remain productive and flexible. Because of the pandemic, this freedom and adaptability are more important than ever before. Reward productive employees with paid time off, as long as all their duties and goals are being met. This kind of recognition and trust will further encourage productivity and improve employee satisfaction.

    Promote A Healthy Work-Life Balance

    A healthy balance between work and play can improve productivity, staff happiness and overall results for your team. As a leader, you need to take some responsibility for your teams, particularly those that work remotely. Working from home can make this balance a challenge, so it is your job to do everything you can to encourage it. Consider asking teams to schedule in some downtime and pay attention to those that seem to be overworking. If anyone in your team seems to be struggling with separating work and life, then do what you can to encourage a healthier balance.

    Hold Cross-Departmental Meetings

    Having team members who don’t usually work together attending the same meetings will encourage a more diverse workplace. This is so important in an agile work culture because it helps everyone stay in touch and involved with all business areas. Get some new voices at the table and encourage your teams to speak freely to one another about their current challenges. You might find some talent that wasn’t initially apparent, and it helps to avoid silos in the workplace. Not only that, but this cross-departmental communication will break down the hierarchy because everyone is on the same page.

    Measure Results Instead Of Hours

    Many businesses focus so heavily on their employees’ hours that they fail to see the crucial results. Shift your focus from the number of hours worked to the results they are achieving and their overall productivity. Because most individuals respond more positively to this approach, it is a great way to encourage an agile work culture. The only time this is challenging is when fixed office hours are required. If your teams don’t need to be working set hours, then give them the control and flexibility to manage their own schedule. Ultimately, promoting an agile work culture among your team is a significant change from traditional approaches. You need to have the whole organisation on the same page, and everyone in the business must take ownership of their own way of working. The key driver behind agile methodologies is flexibility, so make sure that is engrained into all members of your team. At TSG Training, we offer various courses to help you and your team learn all about agile methods. We have courses for all levels and abilities, so whether you are already clued up on agile or new to an agile environment. Contact our team today to find out more and discuss your agile learning requirements.

  • Artificial Intelligence is Already Changing Our World

    Bernard Marr is founder and CEO of Bernard Marr & Co. He is also a futurist, keynote speaker, strategic adviser to companies and governments and a best-selling business author.
    There are different ways to understand artificial intelligence (AI). Often when we think of the term, we think of machines which are able to pass themselves off as ‘intelligent’. Possessing, in some way, the hard-to-define abilities of organic, sentient beings to plan, analyse, make decisions and perhaps even dream.
    It’s true that we’re some way away from the science fiction vision of robots that can converse with us in a way that is indistinguishable from how we might talk to another person. Let alone ponder their own place in the cosmos, as human philosophers do, or even consciously strive to become increasingly human – in the manner, say, of the android Data in Star Trek.
    In truth, machines which are classed as capable of AI today mark only the first steps towards this type of machine intelligence. And there’s good reason for that. The tremendous surge in progress and activity we’ve seen in the field of AI over the last decade has been driven by business. And business doesn’t want machines to pontificate on the nature of humanity and conscious thought. It wants them to work!

    Changing the world as we know it

    The AI that is changing the world today – from the healthcare industry to finance, education, recruitment and the service industry – is what is known as specialised AI. This refers to AI applications which are designed to do one task, very efficiently and very rapidly, and become increasingly good at that task as it generates and consumes more and more information.
    In essence, it’s a single step forward from the ‘traditional’ computer software we’ve grown accustomed to over the last half-century. Many of us have grown up with the definition of a computer as a device which takes an input, processes it, and supplies an output. Whether the output is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ is outside the boundaries of a traditional computer’s understanding – like a foot soldier of a despotic regime, all it does is blindly follow orders.
    What’s new is essentially the addition of a feedback loop. Without input from us and based purely on the data it has access to, today’s AI ‘learns’ how accurate its results are and how to improve them. This is the basic premise of all machine learning. It’s actually nothing new – the theory has been understood for decades – but it does require enormous amounts of data and processing power to work effectively. What’s changed recently is that, thanks to the internet and cloud computing, those are things we now have in abundance.

    Out of the lab and into the world

    Within the space of a few short years, we’ve moved from a situation where AI was being talked about by futurists and boffins as something that was set to change the world, to a situation where it’s clearly having real and tangible effects on just about every area of industry, as well as our day-to-day lives. If you use a global system like Visa or American Express to make payments, then your transactions are being analysed by smart, learning machines that are becoming increasingly effective at determining whether your payment is valid or fraudulent.
    If you are being treated for a medical condition, then its increasingly likely that the treatment you’re receiving was developed with the help of AI analysis of thousands of clinical trials and scientific papers.
    The advertising you’reto when you browse the internet, surf videos on Youtube or even open the junk mail that comes through your letterbox is determined by AI analysis of personal data you’ve left behind through your digital footprint.
    The food you eat may well come from crops which a farmer grew with the help of AI, telling them how to efficiently use the land available to them, as well as the most economical way to deploy fertilisers and pesticides to reduce waste and boost yield.
    When you take a picture with your smartphone, AI circuitry analyses lighting conditions and ‘recognises’ prominent features of the data the camera sensor is exposed to, such as faces or fast-moving objects, to return an image which will be more pleasing to the eye.
    If you apply for a job with a large corporation, it’s increasingly likely your application will be pre-screened by AI algorithms to determine how good a fit your skills and personality will be for a role, before you set foot through the front door.
    When you shop in a supermarket, the products you see on the shelves are determined by yet more algorithms, which are learning to take geography, demographics and meteorology into account when making stocking decisions.

    Brave new world

    I could very easily go on – in fact I’ve spoken to hundreds of businesses which are putting the basic concept of self-improving, data-munching software applications to work in a myriad of obvious and not-so-obvious ways.
    The technological solutions in use might be vastly different, but generally the fundamental principles at work are similar. By feeding machines with data and giving them enough compute power to crunch through it, they can become better and better at making decisions, without any need for input from us.
    Of course, it’s far too early to tell where all this is going to end. Doom-mongers love to point out nightmarish possible scenarios where machines work out that the biggest hindrance to their ability to work effectively is us, their human overlords. Those whose fears are perhaps slightly more rooted in reality warn of the societal damage that could be done by widespread human redundancy, as machines become a cheaper and more efficient option for businesses driven primarily by a desire for profit.
    Worries of the former sort may seem far-fetched but have been voiced by some undeniably bright people – the likes of Stephen Hawking and Elon Musk, for example. On this basis alone, they probably shouldn’t be discounted (tempting as it is to assume that mandatory inclusion of an ‘off’ switch would be a simple solution to the problem). Worries of the latter form are more difficult to dismiss. Given what we know of the behaviour of corporations, it seems possible that concerns of societal well-being could well take a back seat to the potential of increasing profits and reducing staffing overheads.
    There are other, well-founded concerns over what it will mean for so much data on our lives – from the gps-tracking of our day-to-day activity we voluntarily allow by carrying smartphones, to the detailed genetic blueprints that medical AI will make available – to be ‘out there’.
    These are all concerns that society will have to address – and probably more quickly than we thought – in the coming years. The fact is the rise of the machines has taken place more swiftly than anticipated. And while most signs seem to point to it so far being an empowering movement, rather than a dehumanising one (for example, more jobs are forecast to be created by AI, than lost to it, over the next 10 years) there’s a lot that’s still unknown and very difficult to predict.
    One thing which is certain though, is that, as with other technological quantum-leaps of the modern era – first electricity, then computers, then the internet – AI is something of a Pandora’s Box. Now it’s been opened, it won’t be closed again – and it’s far from a given that this is a bad thing. AI has already shown us that it can bring tremendous opportunities for positive change. And in the end, the deciding factor won’t be the machines themselves, but rather what we, the people, decide to do with it.

    Find out more about AI training from TSG Training

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  • Change Management and DevOps: Back to the Future

    Tracey Torble, IT service management consultant and author of Change Manager (a BCS publication) considers the role of change management in an agile world.
    Back in the day when information technology was dragging itself out of the swamp, approaches to technical change were many and varied. Technicians came to IT from a variety of disciplines and different methods were inevitable.
    The IT world was a simpler, more plodding place, at a time when analogue business systems were still warm. Business continuity for many meant going back to pen and paper, memos and telephone calls. Inconvenient, but not too much of a stretch, working without IT not yet unthinkable.

    Before Change Management (BCM)

    BCM, implementing and maintaining IT services was considered ‘too technical’ to be of interest to managers and service users. Planning occurred on a continuum ranging from formal project management through to spontaneous. Individual technicians or teams did their own thing and success could be attributed to the robustness of technique, luck or both.
    More to the point, recovery from a failed change was sometimes achieved perfectly with a textbook back-out plan, or by fluke, or it may have taken on a life of its own. These were the failures that had file servers still in pieces on Monday morning, with attempts to restore service thus far unsuccessful and still counting.
    As IT staggered to its feet, and core systems broke out of central processing onto desktops, the pace of change picked up, as did the incidence of failure. Expanding IT departments meant that different approaches to change multiplied exponentially, and the wheel may have been reinvented several times (a day or week). If perpetual chaos was to be avoided, an overarching approach was required. Enter change management.

    The shock of the new

    IT change management came as a surprise to practitioners of IT change. Suddenly motives were under scrutiny and perhaps found lacking in financial or business authority; autonomy was perceived to be curtailed. The process, not factored into the work, took too long, and real or self-imposed deadlines could not be met.

    Change was just change; thinking about it explicitly would draw no further illumination and writing about it was unnecessary. Risk and impact assessments became obtuse; the question ‘what will you do if the change goes wrong?’ was frequently answered with ‘it won’t’. Instead of being accepted as a reach for consistency, change management was often considered a criticism of ability.

    A challenge

    Implementing change management was, and still is, a huge challenge; attempting to corral a multitude of methods into one approach, with built in approval gates, inevitably satisfies no one. Good practice processes such as ITIL® provide the framework, but, ironically, there are as many different takes on change management as there are implementations of it.
    Often imposed and designed to cover all eventualities, processes can become complex, and one person’s governance becomes another’s bureaucracy. Resistance, for whatever reason, has always been an issue and taken many forms (such as artificially downgrading risks, misusing emergency status, or bypassing the process altogether). The image of change management getting in the way of change has been difficult to shake off.

    The agile revolution

    The advent of agile methods such as DevOps responds to the need to facilitate increasing demand and pace of change in technology, especially with the early introduction of prototype products that are enhanced as requirements are refined.

    Change management processes that are perceived to be over-engineered might justifiably be deemed incompatible and as teams develop self-sufficiency, control and ownership of their systems and services, they also expect to manage their own changes. On the other hand, if agile methods are perceived to be a licence to carry out rapid change autonomously, that might lead to the rejection of change management altogether, as not fitting the model.

    The elephant in the room

    However, there is no intrinsic resistance to change management in the DevOps approach. On the contrary, its creators sought to retain good practices, but as ideas are appropriated and adapted to fit individual business needs, concepts evolve, and there are no guarantees about what survives.
    Herein lies the elephant in the room: if agile methods such as DevOps are black boxes, opaque outside of a close-knit team, how does the rest of the organisation know what change management is carried out?
    To what extent are agile teams integrated with change management, innocent of the need, or Trojan vehicles that legitimise process avoidance? Have agile teams owned their change management or let it slip? The answer is probably ‘all of the above’, depending on experience, team process maturity, and context.

    Fit for purpose

    Change management as an external process is still relevant but may no longer be fit for purpose in an agile world. Elements of practice such as risk assessment and testing are not the preserve of change management.
    Teams that already incorporate these, and other aspects of the process, rightly see duplication of effort as a contradiction, their faster methods hamstrung by the addition of outmoded ways of working.
    On the other hand, teams that do not embed good practices at a local level, consciously or unconsciously, may slip under the radar, plunging a whole area of business risk into darkness amid assumptions to the contrary.
    This potential for fragmentation is a danger zone. If agile methods of working are, at least in part, a backlash against processes that are too slow to meet real needs, then this exposes an opportunity for doubters and resisters to take a fork in the road.
    Unfortunately, that fork could lead back to the good old bad old days of freedom, but lawlessness. As self-managed teams begin again to steer their own course, the view from outside becomes unclear.
     
    Notwithstanding a lack of change governance contributing to the return of the Monday morning outage, assumptions might be made about how things are done, and expectations may, or may not, be met. Variance between practices may cause confusion between teams and managers, and service users may become frustrated with piecemeal communication, or worse, no communication at all.

    Flexibility

    To avoid a return to BCM, the role of the change manager becomes more important than ever and they must take a more flexible approach to process than they may have in the past.
    Every organisation is different, but guiding teams on the requirements of change governance and helping them to embed the leg work into their normal routines may be more effective than imposing a rigid one-size-fits-no-one obstacle course that everyone must face.
    The change manager retains overall responsibility and orchestrates a coherent view to demonstrate quality assurance and communicate impact from a central perspective, but in the meantime, duplication of effort and perceptions of unnecessary bureaucracy are avoided.

    Hey, Marty!

    If, for some, the face of change management is fading, like Marty’s siblings in the photograph in Back to the Future, it is important to acknowledge that change management (like the film) has been around for 30 years or more. It may not always have been perfect, but its intentions are honourable.
    Those tempted to step over it would be foregoing the opportunity to progress from the shoulders of giants. But change management must acknowledge and meet those who are owning its ideals themselves. By incorporating its requirements at the local level but maintaining an overview, it becomes possible to realise the potential of fast turnaround change without compromising quality.

    After Change Management (ACM)

    It may be that the agile world is ACM, but that should not mean a wholesale rejection of the process. Change management can, and should, adapt and reinvent itself to keep up with the change that it serves. The concept will always be essential; its ability to change itself is progress.
    See more from TSG Training on Change Management and ITIL® courses:

    • Classroom and Virtual here.
    • Online, Self-Study here.

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