Software Testing is considered as a Cost for some Stakeholders & an Investment for others in their context of operation. It’s good to know the status in your context. I had this query in LinkedIn Answers & thought of sharing the good discussion to my blog readers.
Do you consider Software Testing as an Investment or a Cost in your Context ?


If the production schedule is followed, software testing is an investment. Releasing a product that has not been tested will make a direct impact on the brand integrity.
As per Sissigma Concept Software Testing is a Non value added services to client.
Hi Venkat, you raise a very important point here. I went back to the responses on linkedin and found that the dialogue there unanimously says that testing has to be perceived as an investment.
The other realization has been that testers are only as good as the development teams are. My experience suggests that if a good tester works on a project with average programmers, his likelihood of failure is higher. While I have also seen average testers doing qualitative releases of project with good programmers. So, while testing is an investment we make, we should also try to mimimize it by implementing good design and having developers also accountable for unit level and basic testing.
[...] September 26, 2007 Software Testing – Cost or Investment? Posted by Tanmay under Project Management , Quality Processes , Software Testing There is an interesting thread going on over at LinkedIn Answers where Venkat asks whether testing is a cost or an investment. [...]
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@ Mafozo,
The perspective from the stakeholders matters a lot & ROI will be more if it’s treated as an investment.
@ TesterQA,
I don’t agree on the fact that Testing is a non value added service. If that’s the case, there is no need to test the software applications.
@ Tanmay,
Yes you are right and the perception matters a lot and it also boosts the motivation levels of the team.
As with any other investment, software testing should be planned,
deployed and tracked carefully in order to get the best results.
Hi … Its really good to discuss about this as it is cost for some and as investment for others. As with any other investment, software testing should be planned, deployed and tracked carefully in order to get the best results. I had found many new ideas from macrotesting http://www.macrotesting.com its the best resource for Software Testing. Thank you for your post …. Expecting lot more Articles from you….