81. When should you begin test planning in a project?
Answer:
Test planning begins once the Test Requirement Matrix (TRM) is finalized by the Project Manager and handed over to the Test Lead. At this point, the Test Lead initiates planning activities such as:
- Team formation
- Risk identification
- Creating the test plan
- Reviewing the plan with stakeholders
Test planning aligns with the project initiation phase to ensure readiness and clarity before execution.
Q82. Would you prefer to work in a team or independently, and why?
Answer:
I prefer working in a team because software testing is a collaborative effort. Like a relay race, each team member contributes to achieving quality goals. Teamwork facilitates knowledge sharing, faster defect resolution, and higher productivity.
Q83. When should testing start in a software project, and why?
Answer:
Testing should start as soon as the project begins. This is aligned with the Shift-Left Testing approach, ensuring early identification of defects during requirements and design phases, reducing overall cost and effort.
Q84. Have you ever created a test plan? If not, how have you contributed?
Answer:
Though I haven’t authored a test plan, I have actively participated in the planning process by reviewing drafts, suggesting improvements, and aligning test cases with the test plan’s objectives under my Team Lead’s guidance.
Q85. How do you define software quality?
Answer:
Software quality refers to a product being bug-free (within reason), delivered on time, within budget, and compliant with both functional and non-functional requirements. It should also be maintainable and scalable.
Q86. What is the role of QA in software development?
Answer:
Quality Assurance ensures process adherence throughout the SDLC. QA focuses on preventing defects by enforcing standards, conducting reviews, and educating teams on best practices rather than merely detecting bugs.
Q87. What is your involvement in the test planning process?
Answer:
Test team members typically don’t create test plans but are essential in understanding and executing them. My role involves reviewing the plan to understand test scope, deliverables, schedule, and responsibilities.
Q88. Which SDLC methodologies are you familiar with?
Answer:
I have experience with:
- Waterfall Model – Sequential, structured
- Spiral Model – Risk-based iterations
- Rational Unified Process (RUP) – Iterative from IBM
- Rapid Application Development (RAD) – Speed-focused, from Microsoft
Q89. What is globalization testing in software QA?
Answer:
Globalization testing verifies that an application can function across different languages, regions, and cultures without breaking functionality. It ensures correct formatting, encoding, and character rendering globally.
Q90. What does baselining mean in software testing?
Answer:
Baselining refers to establishing a formal reference point (like a finalized test plan) after peer reviews. Future versions and updates are compared against this baseline to track changes and ensure consistency.
Q91. Define and distinguish between Unit, Integration, and System Testing.
Answer:
- Unit Testing: Testing individual components/modules (white-box; by developers).
- Integration Testing: Testing the interaction between modules (can be white or black-box).
- System Testing: Validates the complete system against the requirements (black-box; by testers).
Q92. What qualities would you look for when hiring someone in a testing group?
Answer:
I would prioritize analytical skills, attention to detail, communication, domain knowledge, curiosity, and proficiency in test design techniques and defect tracking tools. A passion for quality is essential.
Q93. What is the test group manager’s role in relation to stakeholders and team members?
Answer: The test manager:
- Tracks test metrics (defect closure rate, pass/fail rate)
- Communicates with senior management about test progress
- Collaborates with development teams
- Ensures resource alignment and timely delivery
- Manages scope and requirements volatility
Q94. What criteria help you decide between automation and manual testing?
Answer: Key factors include:
- Repetition (e.g., regression suites)
- Stability of functionality
- Budget and timeline
- ROI on automation For exploratory or ad-hoc testing, manual is more efficient.
Q95. How do you analyze test results and report metrics?
Answer: I analyze results using:
- Defect Density
- Test Effectiveness (T/UAT)
- Defect Removal Efficiency (DRE)
- Root Cause Analysis (RCA) These metrics help in process improvement and test quality assessment.
Q96. How is regression testing performed and when is it required?
Answer: Regression testing is conducted when:
- Code is changed or bugs are fixed
- New features are added
- System configurations are modified
It ensures that existing functionalities remain unaffected. It’s best automated for repeatability and consistency.
Q97. When would you apply Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)?
Answer: FMEA is used proactively during early design or requirement analysis stages to identify potential failure points, their impact, and likelihood. This method helps in preventive quality assurance and risk mitigation.
Q98. What is UML and how is it useful in testing?
Answer: UML (Unified Modeling Language) helps testers by:
- Visualizing system behavior (use case diagrams)
- Understanding class interactions
- Deriving test cases from sequence/activity/state diagrams
It bridges communication between business, development, and QA teams.
Q99. What would you do on your first day at a new job?
Answer:
- Get introduced to the team and reporting manager
- Understand the company hierarchy
- Learn about the project, domain, and tools used
- Clarify my roles and responsibilities
Q100. What is IEEE and why is it important in QA?
Answer: IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) sets international standards for testing and software development. Following IEEE standards like IEEE 829 (Test Documentation) ensures consistency, clarity, and quality in test artifacts.
👉The Next 20 Questions-III: MANUAL TESTING
