Introduction: Software QA estimation is a complex, high-risk human endeavor. As such, it’s important to combine good estimation techniques with an understanding of the factors that can influence effort, time, dependencies, and resources. Some of these factors can act to slow down or speed up the schedule, while others, when present, can only slow things down.

This paper is an attempt to offer concrete approach “Estimator Metrics” for estimation by going to the bit level analysis and using priority of influence elements, impact factor, degree and priorities for QA activities.

Audience:Project Managers, QA Managers, QA Leads

Area of Application: QA Testing Time & Resource Estimation for any software project development.

Issues and Challenges: Numerous approaches are available for Project estimation e.g. Function Points Analysis, Feature points, Use Case points or Lines of Code (LOC) but QA time and effort estimation generally done through past projects experience or simply through wild guess. Nobody follows any streamlined process for the same.

Available traditional approach (guess based) gives correct estimation, specially while the estimation is for less complex, short term project but most of the time they confers lacks of time for QA activities while we apply the same approach on long term and complex projects.

Benefits: Our approach would help in appropriating time estimation for QA activities and would also assist in getting a better idea about the constituent of estimation and influence elements involved in projects. Repeated analysis has been done using different set of values before zeroing on the presented concept.

Amit Bhardwaj, Seiner QA Engineer at TekMindz India has over four years of professional experience in Quality Assurance and software testing. He is accountable for the responsibilities of QA test cycle, defect management, creating
Metrics and asset creation (tools and processes). Amit holds Masters Degree in Computer Science from UP Technical University, Lucknow. He is widely involved in the testing presentations and paper submission. He has been selected among seven finalists for the Accenture software testing challenge 2007, Bangalore, where he presented his solution comprising Test Plan, Strategies & Test Estimation based on case study problem. Prior to joining TekMindz he worked at QA InfoTech. He has also imparted paper presentation on “Testing: The Magnitude of three dimension skill set” to trainee’ batches @ QAIT. He has also played a lead role in providing knowledge transfer sessions to new joiners and other employees.

Satish Kumar is an Quality Assurance Manager, Satish oversees the development and implementation of QA strategies and protocols for all client engagements. He is true advocate for Quality. Under his guidance the central knowledge repository for reusable components has grown tremendously over the past years. He has been instrumental in introducing niche testing techniques in functional automation and process implementation. He has contributed generously in providing thought leadership which brought about significant improvements in testing solution delivery. Satish holds Masters Degree in Computer Applications from NIT, Allahabad (Formally REC). Prior to joining TekMindz he worked at Wipro Technologies (R&D), SIEMENS, British Telecom (UK) and Lumenare Networks.