Re: QA Staffing Requirements

Let's start to answer this question by first pointing out Microsoft.  It 
is known that this ratio is 1 to 1 in Microsoft [1].   Others have 
reported a more extreme 4 to 1 ratio for Ecommerce projects [2]  and a 
dependence on several factors including software engineering [3] ,[4] , [5].

Based on our experience, we recommend a ratio of 5 to 2 or better as 
more appropriate for usage intensive GUI oriented enterprise software 
applications.  Testing of wireless, mobile and more modular applications 
may be handled by a lesser number of testers.  However, the key to 
success in any project regardless of the ratio of developers to testers 
is well-defined requirements, APIs, peer reviews & unit testing early on 
in the project lifecycle.

References
-----------
[1]  Cusamano, Michael A. and Richard W. Selby, Microsoft Secrets, Simon 
and Schuster, Inc., New York, 1995
[2]  SQATester.com
[3]  It Depends: Deciding on the Correct Ratio of Developers to Testers. 
2000. Johanna Rothman
[4]  Software Program Manager's Network, Best Practices, 1999, on 
www.spmn.com
[5]  McConnell, Steve. Rapid Development, Microsoft Press. Redmond WA, 1996.

Vijay Sikka
------------
Principal,
Nirixa, Inc.
560 S. Winchester Blvd. 5th Floor
San Jose, CA - 95128
(408) 998 7844


Williford, Rob (US - Hermitage) (by way of Karl Dubost) wrote:

> 
> Jack/All:
> 
> 
> 
> I found "Final Minutes, 2002-03-08 Telephone Conference" of your 
> intercompany QA Working Group on the web 
> (<http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-qa-wg/2002Mar/0066.html>http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/www-qa-wg/2002Mar/0066.html). 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I'm trying to locate general guidance regarding FTE staffing ratios 
> between IT development and testing organizations (e.g., 1 tester per 3 
> developers).   Have searched a number of on-line research repositories 
> (e.g., 
> <http://www.sei.cmu.edu/sei-home.html>http://www.sei.cmu.edu/sei-home.html) 
> to no avail.  From reviewing the minutes above, it seems these are 
> issues that your working group may have knowledge.   Do you know of any 
> such studies that I could include in my continuing research?
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks in advance,
> 
> 
> 
> Rob Williford, PMP
> 
> Deloitte Consulting
> 
> 615-882-7065
> 
> 
> 
> 
>

Received on Monday, 13 January 2003 17:10:35 UTC