Smart Advisory Tool for Distributed Testing Teams

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Solution Overview

Problem

In high velocity application development, distributed testing teams face challenges such as lack of common awareness, coordination, and communication, leading to redundancies and inefficient test case assignment, as well as the inability to adapt testing effectively without a data-driven approach.

Innovation Solution

A smart advisory tool that utilizes production data and analytics to optimize test case allocation, adaptively assign incentives, and monitor testing activities, providing role-specific alerts and a conversational interface to manage and coordinate testing efforts in real-time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If distributed testing teams are used to handle high volume testing tasks, then testing capacity and productivity are improved, but coordination and communication efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting capacityVSAvoidcoordination and communication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized test management platform that acts as an intermediary between distributed testers and test managers. This platform captures, stores, and shares test execution data, device information, and test results centrally, enabling coordination without direct communication between all team members. The platform mediates information flow across the distributed team, resolving the contradiction between geographic distribution and coordination efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If more testers are assigned to test all features comprehensively, then testing coverage is improved, but test case assignment efficiency and resource utilization deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetesting coverageVSAvoidtest case assignment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the system automatically analyzes tester profiles, device inventories, and test execution histories to make intelligent test case assignments. Testers can also self-select test cases based on their available devices and expertise. This automated matching system eliminates manual assignment overhead while ensuring comprehensive coverage, resolving the contradiction between coverage and assignment efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts test case assignment parameters based on multiple factors including tester expertise, device availability, test priority, and historical performance. By changing assignment parameters adaptively rather than using static rules, the system optimizes both coverage and efficiency simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If manual test case assignment is used to match testers with suitable test cases, then test effectiveness is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetest effectivenessVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of test case assignment with an automated computational system. The system uses algorithms to analyze tester profiles, device characteristics, and test requirements, then automatically generates optimal assignments. This substitution maintains the effectiveness of careful matching while eliminating the time-consuming manual process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If distributed teams work independently without centralized coordination, then operational flexibility is improved, but test execution consistency and quality control deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidtest execution consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal test management platform that serves multiple functions: tracking test execution, validating results, managing device inventories, and coordinating assignments. This single platform maintains consistency across distributed teams while allowing operational flexibility, as all teams use the same standardized interface and data models regardless of their location or specific tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10515004B2Smart advisory for distributed and composite testing teams based on production data and analytics

Publication Date: 2019.12.24 ACCENTURE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS LTD

AI summary

An application testing developer system provides a platform for generating real-time suggestions for allocating test cases to testers in a distributed environment based on monitored characteristics from previous testing of a test application. The application testing developer system includes a smart advisory tool that optimizes test case allocation in real-time, adaptively assigns incentives in real-time to test cases for prioritizing testing of certain test cases over others, and monitors and validates testing activities.