- December 11, 2020
Some people wonder if software testing metrics are even important. Well, they are important. They provide an approach to measure quality and effectiveness of the development and testing process in a quantitative way. It can greatly help a team stay on track with software quality. Using a quantitative approach helps to reduce errors made during the development and QA stages.
Not only that it allows stakeholders to measure team efficiency also. Evaluating the use of software testing metrics can improve your software process overall and improving all your projects further down the line.
Types of Metrics
There are multiple types of metrics you can choose to focus on. Firstly, though it is important to understand the different types of software metrics. These are Base metrics and Calculated metrics.
Base Metrics include the raw data which is captured during the testing process by the test engineer. Examples of base metrics include the number of test cases and the number of test cases executed.
Calculated Metrics is taking the data from your base metrics and converting it into information that is useful. Examples include converting data into test coverage or test efficiency.
It is important to focus on both sets of metrics as one is pointless without the other. Base metrics occur while testing whereas there is work required to get to get calculated metrics. Calculated test metrics are usually used by test managers to evaluate processes and in reporting. Gathering these metrics can allow management to make decisions based on the analysis.
Metrics Lifecycle
There are four recognized steps in the metrics lifecycle. To effectively gather and rationalize your data metrics. These are analysis, communication, evaluation, and reports.
Analysis – focuses on the definition and identification of the metrics.
Communication – It is used for explaining the significance and need for the metrics to the testing team and stakeholders. You can also educate the testing team about the data requirements that need to be captured in order to process the metric.
Evaluation – It is important to evaluate the validity of the captured data. It also allows you to calculate the values of the captured metrics.
Reports – You can use all the data gathered to create a report with an effective and proven conclusion. You can use the reports to develop better processes and products with your stakeholders and testing team.