QA procedures in an Agile setting:

07 December 2025

Agile software development arose as a method for establishing a technique that encourages flexibility, speed, and collaboration. Agile solutions are developed with a collaborative approach and cross-functional team efforts. New age organisations with shifting needs are recognising Its advantages include shorter application development cycles and faster response times under high-pressure situations. Shorter and speedier development cycles, Alternatively, are frequently questioned as to their quality, this is where Quality Assurance (QA) enters the picture.

While quality adds to the validation process, it cannot slow down the software development process. QA, on the other hand, becomes an important part of the equation, especially when it comes to providing validation and ensuring the application's stability. It aids in the development of a resilient, dependable, and accessible application, even in the face of unforeseen circumstances. As a result, testing cannot be done in stages because it must be organised as a process.

QA's Role in Agile:

“Agile adoption has generally been driven mostly from the bottom up,” according to Gartner, “and enterprise-class agile development is a natural progression of project-level agile to serve the needs of large-scale software management...” Digital business efforts that demand the rapid delivery of answers to new types of problems are driving top-down strategic adoption of agile.

Both testers and developers must collaborate in Agile development, and the positions may be interchangeable. As a result, it's critical that the criteria are set in stone and that the team is well-informed. From the moment the user stories are written, testing will be involved. The expected scope of work must be clearly understood by both the development and testing teams. Agile development is built on the principle of transparency.

Agile development is significantly more exploratory and experimental in nature. The responsibilities can change, and the project's scope can alter over time. To produce an application with tested code, the testing team should work together consistently across the development cycle. Testing and development are both possible roles for QA in agile. The idea is that developers and testers must collaborate actively to deliver code and finish the project according to the client's specifications.

QA aids in the early detection of flaws and potential defects in a programme during development cycles. It can also assist with concerns such as functionality, performance, and security. This will not only assure application stability, but it will also reduce testing efforts once the software is in the hands of users. This allows developers to continue forward without having to constantly deal with unresolved bugs or rework.

The QA team would be better positioned to provide timely feedback while dealing with pending issues if they worked together effectively with the development team. This allows developers to respond quickly to changes and switch back and forth while the programme is being developed. It also aids in the reduction of efforts, as well as time and expenditures. Finally, it promotes faster turnaround and cost-effectiveness, both of which are critical in the Digital Transformation era.

Agile techniques, as numerous experts have correctly noted, provide teams and employees with the essential ownership when working on projects. QA, on the other hand, allows teams to maintain

relevance and consistency while churning out code and comprehending client briefs. Teams can produce unique apps in this way, thanks to ongoing cooperation and adaptability.

What does it take to create an effective QA strategy for your Agile environment?

To make the process reliable and validate each stage, QA must be integrated into every development strategy. At the same time, it cannot restrict the development process's speed. So, what does a relevant and well-suited QA strategy entail?

Maintain a result-oriented approach to QA: Agile development focuses on achieving shorter goals and achieving smaller objectives. This means that QA must work inside the Agile equation, which is significantly faster and more dynamic. A team's ability to deliver outcomes that get them closer to their end goal can be greatly aided by a results-oriented approach. Although testers and developers collaborate, delivering specific results brings them closer together.
Maintain openness in your goals: When transparency is maintained, Agile or any other innovative software development approach works well. It is critical to maintain everything in the open while working in an Agile setting, whether it is with clarity of goals or transparency throughout the process. This will aid teams in collaborating effectively and meeting deadlines.
Make testing a habit: It is not possible to save testing until the end of the cycle. It is critical that it be incorporated into the development process. It must occur throughout the sprint, with the QA workload being distributed throughout the cycle, allowing teams to uncover issues earlier rather than later. When testing and development are combined, both teams can resolve issues more quickly and with higher quality.
Make plans for developer demonstration: Demonstrations and meetings in person provide a tremendous amount of value. As a result, if the opportunity arises, it's a good idea to have the development team do face-to-face demonstrations of various programme functionalities. The QA staff will become more involved as a result, and issues will be clarified in person. Furthermore, face-to-face interactions will shorten the feedback loop between development and quality assurance, resulting in increased collaboration and faster response.

Increased client demands, technology changes, and volatility in the business climate are all recurring themes for businesses around the world. Because of the scale of these changes and the resulting uncertainty, most businesses are adopting/following “Agile” — a flexible and progressive software development process/model.

Many organisations in various phases of Agile adoption have relied on Bourntec Solutions as a reliable testing partner. We've assisted Agile newcomers with sprint planning, estimation, and metrics.