Mutual Comprehension in Testing: A Key for Delivering a Quality Software

The Role of Mutual Understanding in Software Testing for delivering Quality Software:

In today’s fast-paced world, finding time to communicate with one another is a challenge. This article explores the importance of mutual understanding in this context.

Imagine a scenario where a developer has no knowledge of software testing, and a tester has little understanding of software development. In such cases, it is unrealistic to expect the release of high-quality software, whether to the market or to customers.

Unless developers are familiar with how their developed software or application is tested or used from the perspective of testers or customers, they cannot create high-quality software.

Similarly, testers cannot thoroughly test software and identify potential bugs unless they understand how the software or application has been coded or developed.

For a detailed understanding of the difference in perspective between “Testers” and “Developers,” please read => The Difference in Perspective of “Testers” and “Developers”

Therefore, mutual understanding plays a crucial role in delivering high-quality software to the market and customers.

What is Mutual Understanding?

Developers must have knowledge of testing, including how software or applications are tested after development, what testing scenarios are considered, and customer expectations.

Developers who grasp these points can develop better quality software or applications. On the other hand, testers should have at least some understanding of the software’s architecture, flow, etc.

When testers are familiar with these aspects, they can test software or applications from an end-user perspective and contribute significantly to delivering software or applications with minimal bugs. This understanding between developers and testers is known as Mutual Understanding in Testing.

The following illustrations depict Mutual Understanding more clearly:

Figure 1: The Role of Software Development and Software Testing in Developing High-Quality Software or Applications

The above diagram illustrates the involvement of software development and software testing in creating and testing high-quality software or applications.

In this diagram, it is assumed that developers and testers have a clear understanding of requirements, so requirements are not included.

Figure 2: Lack of Mutual Understanding when developers and testers are limited to their respective areas of work

The above diagram depicts the absence of Mutual Understanding. Here, developers and testers are only familiar with their respective areas of work in software development and testing.

Figure 3: Mutual Understanding between Developers and Testers leading to the development of High-Quality Software or Applications

The above diagram clearly illustrates the results of Mutual Understanding. It demonstrates how Mutual Understanding between developers and testers leads to the development of high-quality software and applications. A clear distinction can be seen between the scenarios before and after Mutual Understanding in Figure 2 vs. Figure 3.

Simply put, Mutual Understanding in Testing refers to gaining an understanding of each other’s work, comprehending what the other person does, and having a thorough understanding of their work.

Examples of Mutual Understanding

Mutual Understanding can also be applied to real-life scenarios, and its benefits extend beyond the realm of software development and testing.

The following are a few instances that exemplify Mutual Understanding:

For Example:

• With a strong mutual understanding, a husband and wife can lead a better life.
• With a solid mutual understanding, a team leader and team members can form a stronger team and perform better.
• With a deep mutual understanding, the captain and team members can play a better game and win together as a team.

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg, as there are many more instances where Mutual Understanding plays a vital role.

Advantages of Mutual Understanding

Mutual Understanding in software development and testing has several advantages and benefits for delivering high-quality software.

The following are a few of them:

#1) With Mutual Understanding, both developers and testers have a common and clear understanding of project goals and what needs to be delivered or achieved.

#2) Mutual Understanding provides an opportunity for developers and testers to familiarize themselves with each other’s work.

#3) It offers additional learning opportunities for both developers and testers, expanding their knowledge beyond their current capabilities.

#4) If any development or testing conflicts arise, they can be resolved efficiently and independently.

#5) Mutual Understanding minimizes the occurrence of mistakes.

#6) Mutual Understanding can significantly reduce rework.

#7) It boosts the confidence of developers and testers in their abilities to develop and test software.

#8) With Mutual Understanding, both development and testing teams can establish and maintain a strong rapport, which contributes to the delivery of high-quality software.

#9) Mutual Understanding helps developers and testers gain a deeper understanding of the system they are working on.

#10) For Example: If a business analyst or architect asks a tester about their understanding of the architecture or technology used in a software or application, the tester who has mutual understanding will be able to provide a meaningful answer. Similarly, if a developer is asked about the scenarios the tester will cover, a developer with mutual understanding can respond effectively. Failure to answer these basic questions may lead to embarrassment and doubts about the abilities of developers and testers. Mutual Understanding helps in avoiding such situations.

Disadvantages of Mutual Understanding

There are no disadvantages associated with Mutual Understanding.

Mutual Understanding offers numerous benefits without any drawbacks.

Conclusion

We hope you found this informative article on Mutual Understanding in Software Development and Testing engaging.

Both developers and testers play equally important roles in delivering high-quality software, and it is their responsibility to establish Mutual Understanding to achieve this goal.

Have you experienced situations where Mutual Understanding has significantly improved your testing life? We would love to hear from you. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section below.