Agile Testing Quadrants | Concept & How to Use it

Agile Testing Quadrants are a practical tool for sorting testing types into four categories. They help testers decide what to test and how to do it, considering exhaustive testing is impossible.

These quadrants are adaptable, letting you choose the right testing approach for each unique situation. In this article, we’ll break down Agile Testing Quadrants and show you how to use them with real-world examples. It’s your guide to effective testing strategies.

The origins of the ‘Marick Test Matrix’

In 2003, software consultant Brian Marick made a significant contribution to Agile Testing. In response to feedback that he wasn’t doing enough to foster Agile testing as a well-defined discipline, he embarked on a mission to rectify this. His initial step was the creation of Agile Testing Quadrants, initially referred to as the ‘Marick Test Matrix’. This matrix consists of a straightforward grid.

Within this grid, Marick proposed specific positions for various testing types in each of the four quadrants. He delved into the rationale behind these placements, setting the foundation for a more comprehensive understanding of Agile testing.

What are the Agile Testing Quadrants?

The Agile Testing Quadrants, an evolution of Brian Marick’s Agile Testing Matrix, serve as a compass for tailoring your testing approach based on the specific business context. There are four quadrants, each emphasizing a different aspect:

Quadrant 1: Technology Facing

This quadrant is all about supporting the team from a technological angle. It centers on testing the code through unit tests and component tests.

Quadrant 2: Business Facing

In Quadrant 2, the focus shifts to supporting the team from a business perspective. Testing activities revolve around business rules, employing functional tests, examples, story tests, prototypes, and simulations.

Quadrant 3: Supporting the Team

Quadrant 3 introduces techniques that assist the team in critiquing the product by approaching it from a business perspective. It includes exploratory testing, scenarios, usability testing, user acceptance testing, and alpha and beta testing.

Quadrant 4: Critique Product

The fourth quadrant dives deep into scrutinizing the product from a technological perspective. It recommends using performance testing, load testing, security testing, and various “ility” testing types such as accessibility, reliability, and portability.

These quadrants guide your testing approach and indicate whether the techniques are more suitable for manual testing, automated testing, or a combination of both. They provide a versatile toolkit for addressing different testing needs within an Agile framework. 

How to Use the Agile Testing Quadrants?

Agile Testing Quadrants offer a structured approach to tailor your testing strategy based on your project’s context. Let’s delve into an example to illustrate their application.

Example 1: 

Imagine you’re working on a web-application e-commerce platform. You realize that in your current context, you need to ensure the user interface (UI) functions flawlessly across various devices and browsers. To do this, you turn to Quadrant 4, which focuses on critiquing the product from a technological perspective. Here, you opt for automated UI testing using a tool like Testsigma. By doing so, you efficiently assess the application’s compatibility, ensuring it performs seamlessly on all target environments. This automation saves time and ensures consistent testing across different scenarios.

Automate your tests for web, mobile, desktop and execute them on 3000+ real devices and browsers, easily, with Testsigma

Example 2: 

Now, consider a scenario where you need to validate the critical business logic governing product discounts and promotions. In this case, you shift your focus to Quadrant 2, which centers on business-facing tests. Here, you might employ tests to verify that the business rules are correctly applied. This automation guarantees that your application adheres to the core business requirements, reducing the risk of costly errors in the live system.

In both instances, the Agile Testing Quadrants help you select the most appropriate testing approach for your specific needs, whether it’s ensuring technological robustness or validating critical business functionality, while tools like Testsigma enhance efficiency through test automation.

Benefits of Using Agile Testing Quadrants Model

Focused Testing: Agile Testing Quadrants provide a structured framework to categorize testing types, ensuring that your testing efforts align with your project’s specific needs. This focus leads to more efficient testing.

Improved Communication: These quadrants serve as a common language for project teams, making discussing and prioritizing testing activities easier. This enhanced communication fosters collaboration and understanding.

Tailored Approach: The model promotes a tailored testing approach by guiding you to choose the right quadrant based on your context. You’re not confined to one set of techniques but can select the most appropriate ones for your project.

Enhanced Test Coverage: The quadrants help identify gaps in your testing strategy. This ensures that business and technological aspects are thoroughly addressed, reducing the risk of overlooking critical areas.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Agile Testing Quadrants offer a valuable toolset for agile teams to strategize and execute testing effectively. By categorizing testing types and guiding their application based on context, these quadrants enhance focus, communication, and test coverage, ultimately contributing to the success of agile projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 4 C’s of agile?

The 4 C’s of agile are Collaboration, Communication, Confidence, and Courage. These principles emphasize the importance of teamwork, open and effective communication, trust in the team’s abilities, and the willingness to take risks and adapt in agile development processes. These C’s are foundational in creating a successful agile environment.