Manual and Automation Testing: How to Resolve the Obstacles?

Automation and manual testing are both parts of software testing, and pose a significant set of challenges to software testers. A software tester’s job is never an easy one. Standing as the middleman between the customers and the development team, testers are in the line of fire most of the time.

Whenever a client finds fault in the final product, it is the tester who has to face the heat. It is also the tester’s job to notify the development team regarding any flaws in the product and the required changes to be made. There are plenty of challenges and obstacles in a software tester’s life, and in the testing process itself.

Test Coverage

Manual testing requires testers to examine a product’s functionality in a number of ways. More often than not, it becomes impossible for testers to cover every single aspect. Perfection in the software testing field is a myth, and there always will remain aspects of the product’s functionality that remains untested.

Software Expansion

With each update and new release, software expands, and the testing process keeps getting harder for automation and manual testing experts. Along with testing the new changes incorporated into the software, testers also need to go through the old functionality thoroughly. This process is often referred to as regression testing.

Deadlines

There is no company in the world that does not operate on deadlines. However, pressurizing certified automation and manual testing professionals with a stringent deadline is never a good idea. The testing process is sped up, and it may not allow testers to have enough time to do their work thoroughly. As a result, the final product may be shipped in a flawed state.

User Perspective and not Company Processes

Every software company has processes particular to each company. Effective automation and manual testing can only take place when testers make end-users their priority. There are plenty of testers who are happy to stay in line with company processes, but this often results in flawed testing and ultimately, a flawed final product. Thinking from the end-user’s perspective is vital, and promotes out-of-the-box testing.

Relationship with the Development Team

Testers are not always on the same page as the development team, and this can create friction. Many out-of-the-box testers have found their suggested changes to be disregarded by the developers. Disagreements are bound to happen when the developers work strictly in line with company processes and testers go out of their way to point out the holes in the product.

Understanding Client Requirements

A product is successful only when it completely fulfils the client’s requirements. However, understanding the requirements is vital. Paying attention to the client’s instructions and testing the product accordingly can help in saving time as well, especially for projects with strict deadlines.

Simultaneous Projects

Software testing teams are often burdened with the difficult task of handling more than one project at the same time. Keeping track of the individual projects, their respective deadlines and working accordingly can be immensely challenging. More often than not, such scenarios lead to faulty final outcomes.

Company Reward Policy

Just like any other employee of the company, testers are also interested in earning better salaries. One common incentive for certified testers is financial rewards directly proportional to number of bugs detected. This is potentially damaging for the product as a tester may be more interested in finding bugs to increase his earning instead of focusing on client and end-user requirements.

Use of Automation Tools

Automation tools such as Canoo, Loadrunner and Selenium have been developed to minimize the requirement for human resources. But using them in test scenarios can be tricky. Several situations may arise where you need to compare the positives and negatives of both automation and manual testing.

Manual testing training is vital for individuals with aspirations of being successful software testers.