The Priority-Based Software Testing in Action
Are you getting the most out of your software testing budget?
Let me share a simple Priority-Based Software Testing method for revolutionizing your QA approach by implementing priority-based testing strategies.
Learn how to allocate your testing resources more efficiently, focus on what truly matters, and deliver higher quality software—all while increasing your ROI.
The Priority-Based Software Testing in Action
By allocating the same testing resources (time, staff, budget) to both high-stakes releases and minor updates, you are not optimizing your spending, neglecting the Priority-Based Software Testing practice, and likely losing money as a result.
I once worked on a web application where we had two types of releases: major quarterly releases with new features affecting payment processing, and minor bi-weekly updates for UI improvements. Initially, we allocated 40 hours of testing for both types.
For the minor UI updates, we rarely found critical issues. Most of the 40 hours were spent confirming that buttons looked right or text aligned properly – important but not business-critical issues.
But, those same 40 hours were insufficient during major releases involving payment processing. We inevitably missed some complex payment flow bugs that made it to production. Just one payment bug cost us $15,000 in customer refunds and emergency fixes.
When we shifted to 20 hours for minor releases and 60 hours for payment-related releases, we caught those expensive bugs before deployment while still maintaining quality on smaller updates. The reallocation saved us money without increasing our overall testing budget.
Time & Priority-Based Testing
Most QA teams have surge periods but no surge testing strategies. Makes no sense. And yes, what I’m about to share works with all software development methodologies.
If release week is chaotic, but mid-sprint is calm, why is your testing approach identical?
Here’s the fix
Add time and priority-based testing allocation.
Ex 1:
QA teams allocate 40 hours/week, but are slammed during releases?
Make it 30 hours for routine testing, 60 hours for release windows.
Ex 2:
Test cycles stretched thin every quarter?
Have a release-window test plan that’s 30% more comprehensive than regular sprints.
Ex 3:
Test engineers overloaded every deployment on Friday?
Make deployment-day testing cost 20% more of your budget than regular weekdays.
The math is simple
If your team is fighting for resources during peak testing times, those testing efforts are underbudgeted.
And if you’re afraid to make the change, just remember:
Worst case? You change it back.
Best case? You make more money by preventing costly bugs with exactly the team you’re already paying for, which is my favorite way to improve ROI.
Key Takeaways
Not all testing periods are equal—allocate more resources during high-risk release windows.
Implement surge testing strategies for peak development periods to match the increased risk.
Start with a 20-30% resource reallocation to higher-priority testing periods.
Calculate the cost savings from defects prevented versus the additional testing investment.
Remember that optimizing your testing strategy isn’t about spending more money—it’s about spending smarter during the times that matter most.
