The Purpose of QA

Before we get into the topic ‘the purpose of QA’, we would like to admit that there are countless articles and books are been published to demystify the role of quality folks in every project and in every department of the organization. However, this is an attempt from our perspectives to find the answer and emphasis our propositions on what could be the role that a QA team must play in the organization.

The Mantra!

‘Practice the Prescriptive’ is the motto or mantra of QA facilitators. Many a times, there exist difference of opinions and altercations between the customer facing folks and QA folks are due to non-compliance to processes or standards. In most cases, project teams would focus only on fulfilling the customer requirements and expectations by skipping the processes and would not consider the quality of deliverable. In order to ensure a high quality and on time delivery of the product, project teams must be adopting ‘Ambidexterity’. 

 Let us identify the similarity between Sourav Ganguly and Suresh Raina. Both of them are right handed bowlers and left handed batsmen. Both the hands are equally potential and competent. Same way, the project managers and project teams would have one side process and the other side customer focus. They must be habituated with the term ‘Ambidexterity’ to excel in both customer focused delivery and processes.

Value Matters Now!

Once Steve Jobs said, the purpose of any software is to give enriching user experience and it must also be ready to accept the future changes. Isn’t it true, that the statement refers to adding value for money and value for many. The notion of value addition to customers would be feasible only when both the QA and Project folks ‘Co-create’. Neither QA nor project can render superior customer service and add outrageous value for money if they work independently. Value will be best exemplified by leveraging ‘The Power of Co-creation’. Because co-creation is everywhere.

The going gets tough!

The role of QA and felicitation is getting more and more pivotal to the projects. On the flipside, there is a common perception that QA folks are only the inquisitors and not the supporting partners. As mentioned earlier, QA helps to practice the prescriptive i.e. by following the documented processes. In an ideal case, a question may arise, why do we need or follow the processes to the QA facilitators. The basic reason behind is to create

1. Repeatable
2. Scalable
3. Predictable customer experience

In other words, it would help us to ‘know-how’ products are developed.

The Must!

While the conclusion falls, the emphasis on the below three terms are prescribed.

1. Be Ambidextrous
2. Be Co-creative and
3. Practice the Prescriptive

Reference:

QA - Quality Assurance

Bibliography:

Rajaram Venkataraman- Head - Infosys Innovation Set labs, Chennai
Dr. Vijay Govindarajan - Thought Leader on Strategy and Innovation / Earl C. Daum 1924 Professor of International Business at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, UK