The software testing industry continues to evolve with new testing techniques and methodologies emerging regularly. With so many options to choose from, it can feel overwhelming when trying to find the right approach for your organisation. Testing maturity models are a valuable tool that can be used to assess the current state of your software testing practices and provide guidance on where you should focus your efforts moving forward. As such, they are an ideal way to understand the various elements that contribute to a well-rounded software testing strategy.
A test maturity model (TMM) is a framework that enables organisations to evaluate their software testing processes and identify opportunities for improvement. There are several different TMM available today; however, in this article, we will explore the most common ones – PRIDE, SAM mvp, and TIDE – explaining what they measure, where you can use them, pros/cons of each one, and how you can implement them effectively with your team.
What is a Test Maturity Model? #
A test maturity model (TMM) is a framework that enables organisations to evaluate their software testing processes and identify opportunities for improvement. A TMM typically includes several key elements related to software testing practices: strategy, process, people, tools, and metrics. It also provides a clear path for how to achieve greater testing maturity by addressing each of these areas.
PRIDE – A TMM for Software Testing #
PRIDE is one of the most popular TMM used in the software testing industry. It is an acronym that stands for:
- Plan
- Prepare
- Identify
- Execute
- Review
Deploy A quick glance at PRIDE reveals that this TMM is more focused on test strategy, process, and metrics than on people and tools. This makes it an ideal choice for organisations that have a mature testing process but are looking for guidance on how to improve their approach.
The plan phase is where you create a testing strategy, select the right test types, and define your goals and expectations. The prepare phase is where you create the plan for executing the test, including the process and who will be responsible for each step. The identify phase is where you identify risks and dependencies as well as collect requirements, usage data, and other information that will help you during testing. The execute phase is where you actually run the tests and gather data (failures, risks, etc.). The review phase is where you analyse and interpret the test data to see where the process might have failed and make improvements to your approach. The deploy phase is where you use the test data to create reports, communicate your results, and make suggestions for improvements.
SAM mvp – Software Test Measurement and Validation Process #
The SAM mvp TMM is focused on using testing as a way of validating an organisation’s software development process. It is a testing maturity model that is widely used in software engineering and management. You can use the SAM mvp model to assess the efficiency of your current testing practices and identify areas for improvement. It includes five key testing concepts: test planning, test execution, test closure, test metrics, and test process management.
Test Planning includes deciding what to test and why, selecting a test design, determining the resources required for testing, and creating a test schedule. Test Execution includes executing the test design, recording the results, and reporting the findings. Test Closure includes analysing the test results, identifying any issues, and proposing solutions. Test Metrics include deciding which test indicators to use, tracking the selected indicators, and using the data to inform future decisions. Test Process Management includes managing the test environment, managing test resources, and managing the test process itself.
TIDE – A Tool to Help You Achieve Testing Maturity #
The TIDE model is a comprehensive approach to software testing that can be used to identify opportunities for improvement across all testing areas. This model is particularly useful for organisations that are either just beginning to implement testing practices or that want to ensure they are covering all bases as they mature. TIDE stands for Testing in Different Environments, which makes it an excellent choice for organisations that conduct testing in a variety of environments (web, mobile, etc.).
The TIDE model includes the following elements: Planning, Execution, Analysis, Reporting, and Improvement. Each of these elements relates to a specific area of testing and can help you identify areas for improvement. Planning includes creating a testing strategy, deciding which types of tests to run, and creating a plan for executing those tests. Execution includes actually executing the tests, recording the results, and reporting the findings. The analysis includes interpreting the test results, identifying any issues, and proposing solutions. Reporting includes summarising the findings and presenting them to the stakeholders. Improvement includes reviewing the test data, identifying areas for improvement, and making suggestions for next steps.
Conclusion #
As you can see, there are many different test maturity models available today. However, PRIDE, SAM mvp, and TIDE are the three most common models that companies use for software testing. The PRIDE model focuses on test strategy, whereas the SAM mvp model focuses on test process. The TIDE model includes elements related to planning, execution, analysis, reporting, and improvement, providing an excellent holistic approach. Regardless of the model you choose, having a clear understanding of your testing maturity can help you better navigate the software testing process and identify areas for improvement.