Managing a Globally Distributed Test Organization

Although many businesses have successfully outsourced software development and testing activities, managing a truly globally distributed test organization comes with a unique set of challenges. Traditional test processes often break down under the pressure of multiple time zones, varying cultures, and numerous technology issues. Communicating standard test procedures, managing exit criteria, and determining release readiness are all more difficult. Anu Kak provides insight into the practices he has employed in his professional career to manage multi-country, distributed test organizations. These practices range from a one-stop portal for communicating goals and status for all phases of development and testing to opportunities for cross-global teams to collaborate on solving test, development, and automation issues. Even organizations that are not operating globally can optimize their practices for better communication and efficiency, enabling them to be proactively ready to expand to multiple locations.