Understanding the Current Skill Set
Without understanding the skills available within a software engineering team, it can be easy to chase unrealistic goals or overlook important testing problems. A comprehensive understanding of the team’s strengths and weaknesses allows for the development of a test strategy that effectively addresses real problems and utilizes the team’s full potential.
For instance, when a company transitions to agile development, they may lack the necessary experience in writing unit tests. This can lead to a false sense of security, as the few unit tests they create may not be sufficient in identifying bugs or issues.
Identifying and Addressing Knowledge Gaps
Being aware of the team’s current skill set helps identify gaps in knowledge or experience that could impact the effectiveness of a test strategy. Once these gaps are recognized, the team can work on addressing them, thus improving the overall quality of the testing process.
For example, if a website has a high number of faulty signups, a team member with the right skill set can ask the appropriate questions to identify the cause of the issue and prevent it from reoccurring in the future.
Selecting the Right Tools and Methodologies
Understanding the current skill set of a software engineering team plays a crucial role in selecting the most suitable testing tools and methodologies. Once the team knows the types of tests they need to write, they can focus on finding the right methodologies and tools that fit their requirements