Efficient Techniques for Accurate Time Estimation in Software Testing

Effective planning, including online chat support, is crucial for project success, particularly in the fast-paced IT industry where new products are constantly emerging. To ensure high-quality and timely product delivery, accurate estimation of testing time is essential. Incorrect estimations can lead to increased costs, schedule changes, project unprofitability, and damage to a company's reputation. By incorporating online chat capabilities, project teams can enhance communication and collaboration, allowing for real-time discussions and quick resolution of issues, ultimately improving overall project planning and success.

What is Time Estimation in Software Testing?

When delivering a comprehensive software product, striking a balance between quality and release dates is a challenge for technology companies. Thorough testing is a critical step in ensuring the smooth functioning of the software. Failure to employ proper testing time estimation techniques can result in missed deadlines and budget overruns. Hence, estimating quality assurance in software development is a complex yet indispensable process that should not be overlooked.

This article will explain how to calculate test time estimation and explore best-practice quality assurance techniques. By understanding these concepts, software delivery companies can avoid overshot budgets, missed deadlines, and strained relationships with clients.

The Importance of Estimating Testing Time in Software Engineering

Testing plays a vital role in the development process, enabling the achievement of the required level of quality for commercial release. When performed correctly by experienced professionals, testing can meet all project requirements within the designated time and budget constraints. Various approaches and estimation techniques exist in software testing. Drawing from our practical experience at Apriorit, we have compiled this article to provide insights into software testing estimation for new projects.

Techniques for Estimating Time in Software Testing

There are several widely used techniques for estimating time in software testing. Here are four prominent ones:

1. Delphi Technique: The Delphi Technique is based on surveys and involves gathering information from expert participants. In this estimation technique, each task is assigned to team members, and multiple rounds of surveys are conducted until a final estimation is reached. Feedback and thoughts about the task are collected in each round. This method yields both quantitative and qualitative results, instilling confidence in the overall estimation.
2. Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is a deliverable-oriented hierarchical decomposition of project work defined by the Project Management Institute's PMBOK® Guide—Third Edition. It organizes and defines the project's total scope, with each descending level providing increasingly detailed definitions of the work. The WBS is further broken down into work packages. Common elements used with WBS in project management include acceptance criteria, budget, deliverables, milestones, phases, and WBS itself.
3. Three Point Estimation: The Three Point Estimation technique is used by professionals to estimate work. It involves initially producing three figures for each required distribution. The first is the most likely/best guess (BG) estimate, representing the average amount of work for a task if performed 100 times. The second estimate is the pessimistic (P) estimate, considering negative factors that may occur. The third estimate is the optimistic (O) estimate, considering positive risks that may occur. Two popular formulas used in this technique are the triangular distribution and Beta (or PERT).
4. Function Point Method: Function Point Analysis (FPA) was developed by Allan J. Albrecht in 1979 and has been further refined by the International Function Point Users Group (IFPUG). FPA provides a standardized method for functionally sizing software work products, specifically those resulting from new development and improvement projects for subsequent releases. It measures functionality from the user's perspective based on user requests and the corresponding output received. Function Point Analysis is a set of rules for Functional Size Measurement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, accurate estimation of testing time is a crucial aspect of project planning in the software development industry. Failure to estimate testing time properly can have negative consequences such as escalated costs, schedule changes, project unprofitability, and damage to a company's reputation. To overcome these challenges, various techniques can be employed. By employing these estimation techniques, software development teams can enhance their project planning, optimize resource utilization, and deliver high-quality products within the allocated time and budget.