Software quality is not a matter of chance. It doesn’t arise from a few extra unit tests or by assigning a student intern to play the role of “tester” for two weeks. True quality begins with a clear mindset and a structured process that involves the entire team. But how can a company with little or no experience in professional software testing establish a genuine testing culture?
Quality Is a Team Effort, Not a Solo Project
A sustainable testing culture cannot be created through isolated measures. It’s not enough to appoint one person as the “quality oƯicer” or to integrate a few test automation scripts into the build. Quality needs to be embedded in the mindset of the entire team.
This means:
- Shared Responsibility: Everyone – from developers to product managers – is accountable for software quality.
- Knowledge and Enablement: Teams need the right expertise to create quality. Testing isn’t magic, but it requires methodology and skill to be effective.
- Focus on the Customer: Quality is measured by how well the software meets user expectations – and ideally exceeds them.
A Framework for Your Application
Quality means safeguarding your software at every relevant level. It starts with clean code and extends to a robust end-to-end testing strategy that supports your application up to its go-live.
A well-designed testing framework includes:
- Unit Tests to ensure the basic quality of the code.
- Integration Tests to verify that all modules work together seamlessly.
- System Tests to examine the application as a whole.
- User-Centered Tests to ensure the software not only functions but also delights.
These levels are not standalone measures but interlinked, like gears in a clockwork mechanism.
Building a Testing Culture: A Process, Not a Sprint
A testing culture doesn’t emerge overnight. Establishing the right processes and bringing teams on board takes time. But with a clear plan, it’s achievable:
- Start with a Vision: Define what quality means for your organization.
- Assess the Current State: Where do you stand? Where are tests missing? What knowledge gaps exist?
- Create a Roadmap: Identify the measures to implement first and those needed for the long term.
- Enable the Team: Equip your team with the skills and tools to independently create and
maintain tests. - Continuous Improvement: A testing culture evolves constantly. Quality assurance is a
marathon, not a sprint.
Why a Testing Culture Delivers More Than a Single Tool
Many companies ask, “What tool do we need to improve our testing?” Tools are important but only as a means to an end. Without a testing culture, even the best tools remain unused or are applied inefficiently. A testing culture, however, brings:
- Reliable Releases that build trust with customers and stakeholders.
- Motivated Teams that take pride in their work.
- Scalable Processes that grow with your organization’s demands.
Let’s Establish Quality Together
Do you want to improve your software quality sustainably and build a true testing culture? We can help you find the right path – from initial assessments to implementation and team training.
With our experience in establishing testing cultures across various industries, we’ll guide you on this journey. Whether you’re starting from scratch or optimizing an existing strategy, we are the right partner for achieving your quality goals.
Take the first step and lay the foundation for software quality that will exceed your customers’ expectations.
The ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) is a widely recognized name in the testing community worldwide. It is the only internationally acknowledged certification program for software testers and is often regarded as a mark of quality by both employers and employees. But how substantial is this status? And what should one truly expect from an ISTQB certification?
A Solid Foundation – But Not a Cure-All
The ISTQB provides a structured introduction to the theoretical fundamentals of software testing. Topics such as test processes, test methods, test management, and tool support are covered, oƯering a valuable entry point into the world of testing. For beginners or those new to testing, the Foundation Level certification is a meaningful starting point.
The Limitations of ISTQB
Despite its wide recognition and acceptance, the ISTQB has some notable shortcomings that cannot be ignored:
- No Practical Experience
ISTQB teaches theory, not practice. No certificate in the world can replace the experience gained through real projects, mistakes, and challenges. Agile collaboration, daily stand-ups, and unexpected issues – these cannot be learned from a textbook. Holding the certificate, at a minimum, means memorizing around 105 pages of content without having spent a single day on the job. - No Agile Mindset
Agile testing is about more than just writing test cases quickly. It’s a mindset: collaboration, flexibility, and a deep understanding of the value software testing creates in a dynamic environment. This mindset cannot be assessed through multiple-choice questions. - Lack of Modern Approaches
While ISTQB strives to adapt to modern developments, many aspects of agile and exploratory testing, as well as advanced test automation, are only rudimentarily covered. For most projects, ISTQB’s theory alone isn’t sufficient to address the challenges of modern software development. - Focus on Certification Over Competence
In many countries where certifications are highly valued, ISTQB certification is often given more importance than it truly deserves. This leads to employers evaluating testers based solely on their certifications – a risk that benefits neither the projects nor the teams.
ISTQB: What It Is – and What It Isn’t
The ISTQB is neither a substitute for experience nor a guarantee of competence. It is a tool that provides foundational knowledge but not the practical skills required for a tester’s daily work. Good testers are defined by their ability to solve problems, respond flexibly, and create value – qualities no certification can fully cover.
Our Approach: More Than Just Theory
We help companies take the step from theory to practice. Whether with or without ISTQB certification, the goal is to enable teams to adopt effective and modern testing approaches.
- Workshops: Practical training sessions that go beyond ISTQB knowledge and prepare your employees for real-world projects.
- Coaching: Support for your testers in developing agile mindsets, modern testing methods, and innovative strategies.
- Strategic Consulting: We work with you to develop a customized testing concept tailored to your company’s needs.
Conclusion: ISTQB Is a Useful First Step, But Not the Endpoint. For your organization, use the ISTQB certification as a foundation – and build upon it to develop real competence. If you want to elevate your testing strategy to the next level and prepare your teams for practical challenges, we are the right partner. Contact us, and let’s create quality that truly matters – together.
There are countless test automation tools on the market, and choosing the right one often depends on the context, requirements, and skills of the team. As external consultants, we’re not fans of recommending the same tool for every problem. However, there is one tool that has consistently stood out to us in certain situations: Katalon Studio.
For companies with little experience in QA automation that want to get started quickly, Katalon Studio can be an excellent solution – especially if the automation is to be maintained by internal staff in the long run.
Not the Most Modern, but the Most Intuitive
Katalon Studio may not offer the latest features or the modernity of tools like Playwright or Cypress. However, what sets Katalon Studio apart is its user-friendliness and intuitive design. For teams with limited automation experience, it’s crucial to have a tool that they can quickly understand and use. Katalon Studio provides:
- A graphical user interface that simplifies onboarding.
- Templates and assistants that make complex automation tasks easier.
- Cross-browser and cross-platform testing without requiring deep technical expertise.
This means that even teams without extensive automation knowledge can quickly achieve their first results – a real motivation booster!
Enablement: From Tool to Capability
One of the key advantages of Katalon Studio is its ability not only to automate tests but also to empower employees. In my projects, I have seen teams, after implementing Katalon Studio, become capable of independently creating, maintaining, and evolving test cases within just a few weeks.
This is a crucial factor for companies that do not want to rely permanently on external experts. With the right training and a targeted enablement approach, Katalon Studio becomes a springboard for the internal development of the team.
For Which Context Is Katalon Studio Ideal?
Katalon Studio is not the perfect tool for every use case. It has its limitations, especially when it comes to highly complex or extremely specialized requirements. However, it has proven to be highly effective for the following scenarios:
- Companies that are starting with test automation and are looking for a solution that is easy to use and quickly implementable.
- Teams with limited automation expertise that still want to create robust tests.
- Companies looking for a solution that can be maintained internally without creating
external dependencies.
Our Offer: From Idea to Solution with Us
If you are planning to introduce test automation and want to ensure your teams can work independently and sustainably, we are here to support you.
From implementation to training your employees, we offer a tailored program that focuses not only on technology but also on enablement and knowledge transfer. This ensures that your test automation will be successful in the long term – independent and in the best hands: your own.
Let’s start your test automation journey together – professional, sustainable, and precisely tailored to your needs.
In the world of software testing, code coverage and automation rate are often regarded as the holy grails of quality measurement. A test coverage of 90%? Impressive! An automation rate of 95%? Fantastic! But what do these numbers actually say about the overall quality of an application or the professionalism of the QA team? Surprisingly little – when viewed in isolation.
Numbers Are Not Synonymous with Quality
It’s tempting to see KPIs like code coverage or automation rate as the ultimate answer to quality concerns. After all, they’re measurable, easy to communicate, and suggest progress. But here lies the issue: These metrics have their downsides.
- Code Coverage: High code coverage doesn’t automatically mean the tests are meaningful or effectoive. 100% coverage can be achieved with superficial tests that ignore actual logic or edge cases.
- Automation Rate: A high automation rate is only valuable if the automated tests are truly robust and relevant. Too many automated tests can also affect maintainability, especially in complex systems.
Quality Is More Than Just a Number
I’ve seen teams working with low automation rates and moderate code coverage – yet still delivering impressive quality. How? Because their agile testers and developers understand quality as a whole:
- They deliberately use exploratory testing to uncover weaknesses that automated tests cannot cover.
- They focus on risks and critical areas of the application instead of getting lost in KPI numbers.
- They foster a culture where quality means more than just meeting targets.
On the other hand, there are teams that deliver impressive numbers – but their applications are riddled with issues. This shows that good KPIs alone do not automatically lead to good
quality.
Context Is Everything
The quality of an application and the work of a test team must always be viewed in context:
- What are the requirements? Some systems are so complex that a high automation rate is unrealistic.
- What is the team structure? An experienced team with a strong focus on quality can deliver outstanding work without impressive KPIs.
- What challenges exist? DiƯerent applications require different testing approaches –
what works in one context may fail in another.
KPIs Are Tools, Not Goals
Code coverage and automation rates are useful tools for reflecting on your work and improving your approaches. But they should never become the sole benchmark for quality. The real indicators of strong quality are:
- A stable application that provides real value to users.
- A team that can respond to challenges agilely and continuously improve.
- A culture where quality is not just measured but lived.
Conclusion: Quality Is More Than KPI Glitter
The numbers might look good, but true quality lies beneath the surface – and it cannot be reduced to a single KPI. Instead, we should always view KPIs as part of a bigger picture, embedded in the context of the application, the team, and the company’s goals. In the end, it’s not about how many percentages are covered or automated – it’s about how good the application truly is.
The rise of agile methodologies has not only transformed how software is developed but also redefined team roles. The traditional “tester” we knew from the waterfall era seems to have disappeared—just like the test manager who used to pull the strings. But does this mean these responsibilities are now obsolete? Absolutely not.
The responsibilities that a Test Manager used to handle haven’t vanished—they’ve simply been distributed across more shoulders. This brings both opportunities and challenges. In the agile world, one truth holds: Every agile tester is also a Test Manager.
More Than “Just” Testing
Agile testing is far more than simply clicking through user stories. It means taking ownership— for the quality of the software, the planning and organization of tests, and communication with other team members.
- Testplanning: Being an agile tester means carefully planning tests while keeping
iterations and deadlines in mind. - Communication: Without a dedicated Test Manager, the tester must ensure that relevant stakeholders are informed about test results and potential risks.
- Quality Assurance: Agile testing requires not only exploratory testing but also knowledge of test automation and foundational test management practices.
In short, agile testing is about being both a tester and a Test Manager—whether the title reflects it or not.
The Opportunity Behind the Responsibility
At first glance, this might seem like an added burden, but it’s actually a tremendous opportunity:
- Increased Responsibility: Agile testers are not just executors; they are co-creators of the development process.
- Broader Expertise: By learning test management and automation skills, the role becomes more versatile and exciting.
- Growth Potential: Greater responsibility brings more opportunities for both professional
and personal growth.
Why This Is a Good Thing
Agile methods often make things more dynamic—and sometimes more chaotic. But that’s precisely where the strength of an agile tester shines. With the right tools, methods, and a healthy dose of initiative, an agile tester can embrace the role of Test Manager.By doing so, they ensure quality, support the team, and drive software development forward.
Ultimately, it’s about achieving a shared goal: delivering high-quality software that delivers on its promises.
Why not rise to the challenge? A tester who also acts as a Test Manager has the chance to elevate their role to the next level—and make a real impact. By taking ownership, mastering a wider range of skills, and contributing to the team’s success, agile testers can play a pivotal role in creating software that truly stands out.
Interested in introducing the agile mindset to your company? Let’s take quality to the next level together!
Software development is like building a house: if the structural integrity isn’t right, even the most beautiful facade won’t help. So what happens if errors in the software are only discovered once the foundation is already in place—or worse, after people have already moved in? Costs skyrocket.
Here comes the so-called Rule of Ten: The later an error is discovered, the more expensive it becomes. An error that takes just a few minutes to fix during the concept phase can require hours in the development phase and days or even weeks in production—not to mention the financial damage caused by lost revenue, reputational harm, or extensive rework.
Mistakes always happen—the only question is when you find them.
All software has bugs. That’s inevitable. The diƯerence lies in when they are discovered. If you wait until end users encounter the problems, it’s too late—and expensive. An error that might cost €100 during the concept or design phase can easily balloon to €10,000 or more during production. Why Does This Happen?
- Increased complexity: Late-stage errors often aƯect multiple modules or systems.
- More complicated rework: Code must be adjusted, tested, and redeployed.
- Reputational damage: Users are less forgiving when they encounter issues than
developers might hope.
Test Early, Save in the Long Run
A professional testing partner isn’t an extra expense—it’s an investment in the future. With experienced testers on board, you can not only identify errors early but also proactively prevent them.
- Quality from the start: Testing during every phase of development ensures consistent
quality. - Cost savings: Early error detection saves both money and resources.
- Smoother go-live: A more stable product means less stress—for your team and your users.
Our Tip: Testing Is Not Optional—It’s Essential
In the end, you’ll either pay for proper testing—or for the consequences of skipping it. The Rule of Ten clearly shows which is the more cost-effective option.
Interested in a consultation? Let’s work together to ensure your software stands on solid ground.
