Fundamentals of Software Quality Assurance and Testing

Operational Auditing and Quality Assurance October 25, 2025
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Introduction

This introductory course establishes the core principles and practices of Software Quality Assurance (SQA) and Testing. It is designed to provide participants with a foundational understanding of how quality is built into the software development lifecycle, rather than just being tested in at the end. The course covers key concepts such as quality planning, verification, validation, and various testing methodologies, from unit testing to system integration testing. Attendees will learn the essential terminology, standards, and techniques needed to effectively contribute to and manage quality throughout the entire software development process, whether using traditional or Agile methodologies.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the difference between Software Quality Assurance (SQA) and Software Testing.
  • Describe the role of quality planning throughout the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
  • Apply various testing techniques, including functional, non-functional, and regression testing.
  • Define and utilize key SQA metrics to monitor process and product quality.
  • Understand the purpose and contents of effective test cases and test plans.
  • Identify and manage defects, tracking them through to resolution.
  • Contribute effectively to quality activities within both Waterfall and Agile (Scrum) environments.
  • Explain the importance of configuration management and version control for quality.

Target Audience

  • New hires in QA and Testing departments.
  • Developers seeking to improve their understanding of quality practices.
  • Business Analysts and Project Managers working on software projects.
  • IT Professionals involved in system implementation and deployment.
  • Users responsible for acceptance testing (UAT).
  • Any professional interested in a career in software quality.

Methodology

  • Group Activities: Developing a set of test cases for a simple application feature.
  • Individual Exercises: Identifying defect severity and priority based on scenarios.
  • Discussions on the differences between SQA in Waterfall vs. Agile projects.
  • Case Studies illustrating the cost of poor quality in software development.

Personal Impact

  • Gain a recognized foundational knowledge in software quality assurance and testing.
  • Develop a systematic approach to quality throughout the development process.
  • Improve ability to design effective test cases and identify defects earlier.
  • Enhance communication with technical teams using standardized quality terminology.
  • Increase career mobility into quality, testing, or business analysis roles.
  • Understand how to monitor and report on software quality metrics effectively.

Organizational Impact

  • Reduced number of defects reaching production, improving customer satisfaction.
  • Lower cost of development by finding and fixing defects earlier in the SDLC.
  • Faster time-to-market due to more efficient and targeted testing efforts.
  • Improved predictability and reliability of software releases.
  • Establishment of a culture where quality is a shared responsibility across teams.
  • More accurate measurement and reporting of software quality performance.

Course Outline

Unit 1: Introduction to Software Quality and Lifecycle

Section 1.1: Core Concepts and SDLC
  • Defining Software Quality and the Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) in software.
  • The difference between verification (building it right) and validation (building the right thing).
  • Overview of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) and Quality Assurance points.
  • Introduction to various development models (Waterfall, Iterative, Agile/Scrum).

Unit 2: Software Quality Assurance (SQA) Practices

Section 2.1: Prevention and Process
  • The role of SQA in process definition and continuous improvement.
  • Introduction to documentation standards and code review techniques.
  • The importance of configuration management and traceability.
  • Defining and collecting key SQA metrics (e.g., defect density, code coverage).

Unit 3: Fundamentals of Software Testing

Section 3.1: Testing Levels and Types
  • The four levels of testing: Unit, Integration, System, and Acceptance.
  • Introduction to testing types: Functional vs. Non-functional (e.g., performance, security).
  • Techniques for test case design (e.g., boundary value analysis, equivalence partitioning).
  • Understanding the relationship between requirements and test cases.

Unit 4: Test Management and Defect Lifecycle

Section 4.1: Planning and Execution
  • Developing a basic Test Plan and Test Strategy.
  • Introduction to test environment setup and management.
  • The Defect Management Lifecycle (Identification, Logging, Fixing, Retesting, Closure).
  • The role of automated testing and basic automation concepts.

Unit 5: SQA in Modern Environments and Improvement

Section 5.1: Agile and Quality Improvement
  • The role of quality assurance in Agile environments and Scrum.
  • Introduction to continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD) and quality.
  • Techniques for risk-based testing prioritization.
  • Basics of Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for software defects.

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