How to write effective test cases in enterprise software testing

Testing for businesses of any size comes with a number of challenges, but enterprise cases are especially difficult to nail down. Quality assurance teams not only have to consider the needs of users across locations and departments, but they must also ensure that their agile software testing is geared for each specific project. As QA gears up to write test cases, they must understand how to do so effectively for the enterprise environment in order to deliver a quality product and identify issues early.
Determine reusability
In agile development environments, being able to execute tests quickly and automate cases is a major asset for consistent delivery. However, in order to successfully automate, test cases must be reusable across the project's lifecycle and can be easily adjusted if necessary. According to Agile Connection contributor Vu Lam, many enterprise apps will likely be used for years to come on having test cases that are reflective of this long-term use will be significant to overall development needs. Similarly, test scripts that have detailed criteria can help define these test cases and mitigate critical defects.
"If it's an enterprise application that you expect to be in use for years, then a set of well-thought-out agile test cases will provide value for money because they'll be reused again and again," Lam stated. "They may even form the basis for automated tests down the line."
Create logical connections
Each project must be treated as a separate entity, meaning that test cases may be different from other apps in the past. At the same time, if similar requirements are conveyed, QA can leverage historical test cases to ensure a consistent quality. Methods and Tools contributor Clemens Reijnen noted that during planning meetings, acceptance criteria should be immediately added as logical test cases linked to the product backlog item. This will not only help testers be more involved from the beginning of the software cycle, but also help them understand the item and create a discussion.
"Some teams rerun every test every sprint, this is time consuming and isn't worth the effort," Reijnen wrote. "Having a clear understanding of what tests to execute during regression testing raises the return of investment of the testing effort and gives more time to specify and execute test cases for the functionalities implemented during the current sprint."
Organizations can leverage enterprise test management software to easily create and link test cases to specific items and keep a historical record of scripts. This could help develop solutions for future projects and enable teams to easily track their efforts.
Follow script writing best practices
While creating test cases for each project may seem like a challenge, there are tried-and-true practices that can bridge into agile operations. According to HP, in order to improve your test cases, you must first analyze the test basis, identify test conditions, specify test cases and develop testing procedures. Following these steps, QA will be able to understand what factors are affecting their projects, account for potential risks and ensure that they are consistently meeting stakeholder and user expectations.
"Once the test procedures are complete, you will once again, reprioritize by business importance, high failure rate and complexity," HP stated. "Whether your organization has an informal or formal process - it is still a process - just like better test case development!"
Even in an agile environment, writing effective test cases is imperative, especially within the enterprise. By following these tips, QA teams will be able to improve their test writing capabilities and create cases that fit each unique project.