A few days ago I was asked via AI and the LinkedIn Community about the question „What do you do if there are conflicting views on bug severity in software testing?“. First I felt honored, but I think this question was randomly sent to anyone on the LinkedIn Network with some kind of software testing job aspect and experience. But I did found it cool. Maybe you also received a smiliar task from LinkedIn? 😃
I tried to answer the questions, but while entering, LinkedIn notified me with a warning and an error that they found I was giving too many answers (on one page they had 6-7 input fields and after every field you had to press „submit“..), but their system was thinking I was a robot. So LinkedIn blocked me from further contributing. But hey, I just smiled and thought – why not just publish this on my blog?
If you have comments or other opinions, then feel free to comment in the comment section below. Thank you very much.
What do you do if there are conflicting views on bug severity in software testing?
Here are my six tips (or hints) on what to do or what you can aim for. As always in software and testing fields – it depends.
1) Define Severity
Severity refers to the impact or seriousness of a bug on the software’s functionality, user experience, security, or performance. It helps determine the urgency and priority of fixing the bug.
2) Gather Evidence
Collect evidence related to the bug, such as error logs, screenshots, user reports, or any other relevant information. This evidence helps in understanding the bug’s impact and assists in making an informed decision about its severity.
3) Discuss Impact
Engage in discussions with stakeholders, including developers, testers, project managers, and product owners. Share the evidence gathered and evaluate the bug’s impact on the software. Consider factors like functionality loss, data corruption, security vulnerabilities, or any other negative consequences.
4) Prioritize Fixes
Based on the impact assessment, prioritize the bugs for fixing. Bugs with higher severity and significant impact on critical features or user experience should be given higher priority for resolution.
5) Seek Consensus
Facilitate collaborative discussions to reach a consensus on bug severity. Encourage stakeholders to present their viewpoints and reasoning behind their assessments. Aim to find common ground by considering the overall impact of the bug on the software and its users.
You can try to do this via Liberating Structures methods or also invest time into Lego Serious Play Workshop (by the way, I am a certified facilitator, another blogpost on its way…)
6) Document Decisions
Once a consensus is reached, document the agreed-upon bug severity along with the rationale behind it. This documentation serves as a reference for future discussions and ensures consistency in bug classification. It helps maintain transparency and provides clarity to the development and testing teams.
Besides that it shows the value of your work in software testing.
Wait – that’s it? No.
What else to consider
- Industry standards and best practices: Consider established guidelines or industry standards for bug severity classification.
- User feedback: Take into account user feedback and reports to better understand the bug’s impact on the user experience.
- Historical data: Analyze past instances of similar bugs to gain insights into their impact and severity.
- Risk assessment: Evaluate the potential risks associated with the bug, such as security vulnerabilities or data loss.
- Time and resources: Consider the available time and resources for fixing the bug when determining its severity.
By following or get inspired by those tips and hints and considering additional factors, you can effectively handle conflicting views on bug severity in software testing.
Alright, just a bit for transparency – I got a bit of assistance of AI (ChatGPT) and getting inspired with the answers. And while you are here – why not type your thoughts into my comment box below? 😁