What are the roles and responsibilities of testers in Scrum? (2024)

In Scrum, Testers hold a critical position in guaranteeing the quality of the product and delivering value to stakeholders. They make a significant contribution by planning and executing tests, identifying and reporting defects, and collaborating with the team to improve the testing process. Testers are responsible for developing automated test scripts and actively participate in exploratory testing to detect potential issues. Working closely with developers and stakeholders, Testers ensure that the product meets acceptance criteria and user expectations. They are committed to continuous improvement, which helps the team deliver high-quality software while adapting to changing requirements and technologies with ease.

Collaborate with developers, product owners, and other team members throughout the entire development process.Contribute to the definition of done (DoD) criteria, participate in code reviews, and promote quality standards within the team.

Als Scrum Master verstehe ich die zentrale Rolle, die Tester in unserem Team spielen. Sie sind verantwortlich für die Qualitätssicherung unserer Produkte. Tester arbeiten eng mit den Entwicklern zusammen, um sicherzustellen, dass alle Features den Anforderungen entsprechen. Ihre Hauptaufgaben umfassen das Erstellen und Durchführen von Testplänen, die Identifikation von Fehlern und das Feedback zu Usability. Sie nehmen auch an allen Scrum Meetings teil, um frühzeitig Einblick in die Produktentwicklung zu haben und ihre Tests entsprechend zu planen. Ihre Erkenntnisse sind entscheidend für die ständige Verbesserung unserer Produkte und Prozesse.

Translated

In Scrum, software testers play a vital role in ensuring quality. They collaborate with the Development Team to understand requirements and create test plans. During the sprint, they test new features and report any issues they find, ensuring that the product meets quality standards. Testers also help the team identify potential problems early and provide feedback on how to improve. They participate in sprint reviews to share their insights and in retrospectives to discuss what testing practices worked well and what can be improved. Essentially, testers help the team deliver a reliable and functional product

Les testeurs dans le cadre de Scrum assument un rôle crucial en garantissant la qualité des fonctionnalités livrées. Leur responsabilité principale est de s'assurer que toutes les exigences et critères d'acceptation sont respectés. Ils collaborent étroitement avec l'équipe de développement pour comprendre les besoins et élaborer des scénarios de test complets, couvrant les différents cas d'utilisation. Les testeurs contribuent également à l'automatisation des tests, favorisant une intégration continue. Leur participation active aux cérémonies Scrum, comme les revues de sprint et les rétrospectives, assure une communication transparente et une amélioration continue de la qualité.

Translated

(edited)

The thing is, good testers understand that the quality of software is closely tied to the processes that come before it, usually before the "ready for QA" phase kicks in. So, if you're serious about championing quality, you can't just focus on what comes out in the end. You've got to be in tune with the whole process. Smart testers get that their job isn't just about spotting mistakes; it's also about shaping efficient workflows and protocols that help developers succeed right from the get-go. It's no coincidence that a lot of testers find themselves drawn to the Scrum Master position

Los testers pueden abogar por una mentalidad de integrar actividades de prueba al principio del ciclo de vida del desarrollo, así como durante la creación de historias de usuario y revisiones de código. Esto ayuda a identificar y solucionar problemas antes, lo que conduce a un producto de mayor calidad y ciclos de desarrollo más rápidos.Los testers también pueden ser líderes de la mejora continua del proceso de desarrollo. Pueden analizar los resultados de las pruebas para identificar tendencias y sugerir mejoras en áreas como prácticas de desarrollo, automatización o estrategia de pruebas.Y, sin duda alguna, los testers pueden desempeñar un papel vital en la defensa de una experiencia de usuario positiva.

Translated

Based on my experience in the IDP IELTS project, Our testers are pivotal quality advocates throughout agile development. With planning participation, they enable proactive testing and early requirement understanding. Demo sessions grant timely feature exposure to identify issues early when fixable. Probing questions validate specifications, reducing defects. Discussing prioritization brings a quality lens to balance features. Our testers champion quality end-to-end, not just pre-release. Their collaboration reflects our shared commitment to quality as everyone's responsibility. Testers' involvement across the lifecycle is indispensable for baking in quality.

El instructor Mike Smith, de Ideagen, dice que todo el equipo debe ser responsable por la calidad del producto. Todas las partes deben procurar que lo que se está construyendo sea el mejor producto.

Translated

Testers act as advocates for quality, contribute to risk management and promote a culture of continuous improvement within the team. Through their expertise in testing, they provide valuable insights and feedback loops that improves the overall effectiveness of the Scrum team, promoting the delivery of high-quality software.

In Agile, testers act as key learners, embracing the PDCA cycle. During Plan, they help define quality goals and create test plans. In the Do phase, testers execute their tests, working closely with developers to identify issues and ensure features work as intended. In the Check phase, they review results and provide feedback, sharing insights on what’s working and what needs fixing. Finally, in the Act phase, testers contribute to improving processes by suggesting changes based on their experiences. This cycle of planning, testing, reviewing, and improving helps the team deliver better, more reliable software.

Stay informed about agile principles, Scrum practices, and emerging testing techniques. Attend relevant training and share knowledge within the team.

A learning-agile mindset enables testers to quickly adapt to changing requirements, experiment with various testing techniques and collaborate effectively within the Scrum team, ensuring they play a crucial role in delivering high-quality software.

En el dinámico mundo de Scrum, los testers no son solo evaluadores; son exploradores ágiles que abrazan el cambio, experimentan constantemente y se esfuerzan por mejorar. Buscan formas innovadoras de añadir valor al producto, aprenden de cada experiencia y comparten conocimientos enriquecedores. Su mentalidad ágil no solo se traduce en habilidades técnicas actualizadas, sino también en una colaboración efectiva dentro del equipo. En este viaje de aprendizaje continuo, los probadores desempeñan un papel esencial en la entrega de software excepcional.

Translated

Testers with a mindset for reading between the lines in requirements ensuring a clear understanding and the identification of valid positive and negative scenarios. Their proactive approach involves clearing doubts before creating test plans and cases, ensuring a thorough understanding of the software's intended functionality. This approach is particularly valuable in agile environments, promoting adaptability and collaboration within the team.

(edited)

An analytical mind, creative flair, and sharp critical thinking skills are the hallmarks of the best testers. It is simply not enough to write tests and do testing. Seeking to understand is a critical part of quality assurance. Not simply, "How do I test this Bug fix?" but what was broken? How does the fix change the way the system works? What areas of code were impacted by the change? Not simply "Is this fixed?" but how did we initially miss this? How can our processes improve to catch issues like this next time? What conversations didn't happen, that should happen? Ask why. Then ask why again. The best testers don't necessarily understand code. But they understand their system in the abstract. And have a voracious appetite for knowledge.

I really value testers who are not only test functionality, but suggest solutions and try to help to unblock developers in case they have difficulties with a found bug. Proactivity of a tester is a huge plus for the team and can help to make the development process smoother.

In Agile, testers act as the voice of the customer, using the PDCA cycle to ensure the product meets user needs. During Plan, they help define what features should deliver from a customer perspective. In the Do phase, testers put these features to the test, checking if they meet user expectations. During Check, they gather feedback on how well the product aligns with customer needs and report any gaps or issues. Finally, in the Act phase, testers suggest improvements based on their findings, helping the team make adjustments to better serve users. This approach ensures the product truly meets customer requirements.

(edited)

Testing an application from a customer's perspective often reveals scenarios not explicitly covered in requirements. This approach, known as wearing a "customer hat," involves exploring real-world usage patterns, uncovering usability issues, and identifying unexpected interactions. This approach enhances overall testing coverage and aligns with agile principles.

En el modelo Scrum, los testers desempeñan un papel vital como representantes del cliente. Empatizan con las necesidades y expectativas del cliente, validan que el producto ofrezca el valor deseado y utilizan métodos como personas de usuario, escenarios y encuestas para recopilar información. Comunican la voz del cliente al equipo, revelando aspectos no explicitados en los requisitos. Adoptan la perspectiva del cliente, al probar la aplicación desvela escenarios no previstos, mejora la usabilidad y potencia la cobertura general de las pruebas, alineándose perfectamente con los principios ágiles.

Translated

Testers in Scrum should play a pivotal role, extending far beyond traditional testing. They are integral to the innovation process, constantly exploring new methodologies and tools to enhance product quality. This involves embracing practices like continuous integration and deployment, leveraging automated testing for efficiency, and actively participating in iteration planning and retrospectives. Their insights contribute significantly to the refinement of user stories and acceptance criteria, ensuring a user-focused development approach. Testers in Scrum, within the SAFe framework, are key collaborators, working closely with developers and product owners to drive continuous improvement and deliver high-value products.

Being innovators is crucial for QA because it speeds up testing, reduces costs, and ensures user satisfaction. It gives a competitive edge, prevents security risks, and adapts to new technologies. Collaboration and continuous improvement build trust with customers, aligning with overall business goals.

Effective testers possess a constant thirst for knowledge and a passion for learning, enabling them to experiment with new ideas and approaches in their work. This proactive mindset ensures they stay updated on industry trends, accepts innovative testing techniques and contribute to the continuous improvement of the testing process and the overall project delivery.

La innovación en el control de calidad, mediante enfoques como la integración continua y la automatización de pruebas, acelera procesos, reduce costos y garantiza la satisfacción del usuario. Esto no solo brinda ventaja competitiva, sino que también mitiga riesgos de seguridad y se adapta eficientemente a nuevas tecnologías.En Scrum, los testers van más allá de las pruebas convencionales, participando activamente en la planificación de iteraciones y explorando constantemente nuevas metodologías. Trabajando estrechamente con desarrolladores y propietarios de productos, se convierten en pilares fundamentales para lograr productos de alto valor y mantener la confianza de los clientes.

Translated

Testers are important members of the development team responsible for ensuring the quality &integrity of the product. They collaborate during sprint planning to define acceptance criteria and testing requirements for user stories. Testers prepare & execute test cases, identifying defects and reporting them to developers for resolution. They work closely with developers to verify fixes and maintain open communication throughout the sprint. Testers actively participate in sprint retrospectives to propose improvements to the testing process and advocate for the end user by prioritizing user needs and preferences. Additionally, they may automate test scripts to streamline testing efforts and increase efficiency

In a Scrum framework, testers play a crucial role in ensuring the quality of the product. While Scrum doesn't define specific roles like "tester," the role is typically understood within the Development Team.Active Participation in the Scrum TeamCollaboration and CommunicationAdapting to Agile Practices

There’re no testing teams in Scrum. Technically. Scrum doesn’t recognize the traditional software development hierarchy. It combines specialists with different skill-sets and expertise under a singular role – “developers”. They are responsible for producing a valuable increment (a smaller portion of the project). Precisely because there’s no division between dev, operations, and QA services, the entire department operates as one. Such a collaborative mindset is what makes the “developers” unit so productive. And no one dares say that QA in Agile isn’t needed. If anything, the approach makes testing more powerful.

Everything this article states "testers as ..." makes me wonder why other team members who do not have testing as core skill could not do these things...... as quality advocates... as agile learners... as problem solvers... as customer representatives...as innovatorsThis just confirms my first contribution to this article: testing is a skill, just as all other skills are needed in the team; and each human being willing to learn the skill can reach a certain level of proficiency with it. Yes people have preferences for types of work; no they should not (be) limit(ed) to only doing this type of work.Collaboration is key, and having specific roles and titles blocks this collaboration.