QA to QE Phase 5 -Measure and Adapt – QE Feedback Loop in Action

Now that we have defined how we are going to work in the QE world, built the capabilities, delivered change and modified the culture, we now need to look at how we assess how effective we are now working.

As we reach Phase 5 of the Quality Engineering Transformation Model, the focus shifts to creating a cycle of continuous improvement. This stage is about tracking progress, learning from outcomes, and adapting to keep pace with an ever-changing landscape. Quality Engineering isn’t a destination; it’s a journey that evolves over time. Phase 5 ensures that the transformation remains dynamic, relevant, and impactful. We may be in a place where we want to loop round and start the process again.

Lets look at some of the key activities to help us improve:

Defining and Tracking Key Metrics

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Phase 5 emphasises selecting metrics that truly reflect the health of your Quality Engineering efforts. Consider examples like:

• Test Automation Coverage: Are we automating the right areas of testing, and how does this impact delivery speed?
• Defect Density: Do defects cluster around certain features or stages in the lifecycle? For example, you might notice a high concentration during integration testing, a sign to explore gaps in early-stage quality practices.
• Cycle Time: How quickly does a feature move from concept to delivery? Reducing bottlenecks here accelerates time-to-market.
• Customer Satisfaction Scores (CSAT): Are customers noticing improvements in quality post-release? This metric connects QE efforts directly to business outcomes.

Visualising these metrics in a shared dashboard, using tools like Power BI or Grafana, helps maintain transparency across teams and stakeholders. When metrics align with organisational goals, they turn into meaningful drivers for improvement.

Implementing Feedback Loops

Feedback loops ensure that learning becomes action. Retrospectives are a cornerstone of Phase 5:

• After each major release, run a Post-Implementation Review. For instance, did integrating security testing earlier in the lifecycle prevent critical vulnerabilities in production?
• Sprint-level retrospectives provide immediate opportunities to refine. If your automation scripts are flaky, can the team address this before it disrupts broader testing workflows?
• Stakeholder feedback shouldn’t be ignored. Consider surveying product managers or end-users, does the team’s quality work enhance their experiences? One example might be using Net Promoter Scores (NPS) to gauge how likely users are to recommend your product post-deployment.

By implementing feedback loops at every touchpoint, you build a system that learns from its own successes and mistakes, fostering a culture of resilience and improvement.

Staying Ahead of Industry Trends

The world of tech moves fast. Staying relevant in Quality Engineering means keeping an eye on what’s next. Phase 5 is an opportunity to explore and embrace innovation:

• AI-Driven Testing: As mentioned previously, AI solutions can dynamically adapt test cases, reducing maintenance while increasing coverage. Or even something as simple as using Chat-GPT or Co-Pilot to sanitise your reporting/output may prevent negative feedback from stakeholders.
• Chaos Engineering: Inspired by pioneers like Netflix, this practice stress-tests systems under randomised failure conditions. For example, simulating server outages to ensure your systems recover gracefully.
• Blockchain Testing Tools: As more companies explore blockchain solutions, tools like Hyperledger Caliper help verify performance and reliability in decentralised systems.
• Robotic Process Automation (RPA): Beyond traditional testing, consider RPA for automating repetitive processes and workflows

Staying ahead doesn’t mean adopting every buzzworthy trend, it’s about critically evaluating what fits your organisation’s goals. Creating innovation initiatives or allocating time for POCs ensures experimentation remains purposeful.

Conclusion

Phase 5 ties the entire Quality Engineering transformation together. It’s not just about tracking progress, it’s about learning from it, adapting to new challenges, and pushing boundaries. With meaningful metrics, effective feedback loops, and a willingness to embrace change, organisations can ensure their Quality Engineering journey remains vibrant and impactful for years to come.

If you’ve got this far, on the final blog, I appreciate you! Help get this model some traction and share your thoughts with me.