The Types of QA Team Structures in Software Development

From coding in a specific language, design of the interface, the objectives set and resources utilised, the process of developing software will vary from business to business.

Although there are a variety of different ways in which the process of software development can be undertaken, Quality Assurance is integral to the software’s success. Not every company will follow the same structure when it comes to Quality Assurance either; some teams will see a Quality Assurance Specialist as a dedicated role, whilst others ensure that each individual involved in the development of the software makes it an integral part of their role. Because of the variations from one company to another, candidates should be aware of the different QA team structures and the requirements associated with these to check suitability.

The QA team

On large-scale projects, it is not unusual for there to be a Quality Assurance team who will test and analyse the software in order to detect any issues or errors that compromise the overall quality. This is most often seen in larger organisations where they have the resources to deploy a team dedicated to assessing the software through a combination of automated and manual testing.

One of the benefits of having a Quality Assurance team is that several eyes can run over the entire workflow process, making sure that any issues do not go unnoticed. Additionally, the extra hands allow for a combination of tests to take place. Whereas automated testing can detect code-based errors, manual testing can flag up any areas that do not match with the overall goal of the software.

Anyone looking to be a part of a team structure should look at the goals of the organisation that they are looking to join; despite working in a team, each member should have a clearly defined role which specifies the responsibilities of the individual. As a result of this, potential job seekers in this field need to be able to cooperate and work as a cohesive member of a team, while also being self-motivated and organised.

The QA champion

In an attempt to move away from an adversarial situation, where there is a partition in the software development team, some organisations will have one dedicated Quality Assurance Specialist that will lead the majority of the assessment of the software. One of the benefits of this is that the process of Quality Assurance is no longer considered a separate entity, allowing the whole team to follow a structure and collaborate.

If applying for the designated Quality Assurance role, it is essential for you to showcase your judgement and decision-making capabilities, as well as your problem analysis and assessment skills. As you will single-handedly be responsible for notifying the software development team of any issues, these skills are important and will show that you work well under pressure.

Moulded Role

Lastly, for smaller organisations with fewer resources, it may be likely that there is no Quality Assurance team. Subsequently, developers will take on the responsibilities of Quality Assurance; they will need to write their own tests to find any issues, which can be completed in numerous ways. For example, a ‘test-driven’ approach model which shows the teams writing the assertions the software should pass first, with the software being written at a later date.

With this in mind, there are a number of issues that can arise in this model if not taken into consideration. Having no team or designated individual to run through the software, it is not guaranteed that issues will not arise at a later date. Therefore, Software Developers looking for new jobs should always ask their potential employer if they will be responsible for the quality of the product and how the process works within their organisation. This will allow you to gain a clearer picture of whether the role will be well-suited to your skills and experience.

If you’re looking for Quality Assurance jobs in Ireland, then get in touch with our team of Specialist Recruiters today. Here at Eolas Recruitment, we specialise in ensuring that you land your dream job, so if you’re after more information, contact us to find out more!