Building a QAOps Culture in Legacy Enterprises

, Content Marketing Manager

Legacy enterprises can often resist software testing modernization. An established brand presence and loyal customer base intensify the pressure to introduce new features and technology and can act as barriers to change. 

With the digital landscape constantly evolving, new devices being introduced, and cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) becoming more mainstream, legacy software testing practices leave large gaps and risk critical issues seeping into user experience. 

Simply put, legacy enterprises must evolve to stay competitive because brand reputation alone won’t get you there. This is where QAOps can help. By integrating quality assurance into the continuous flow of software development and deployment, companies can boost efficiency and quality and cultivate a culture of continuous innovation. 

In this article, we’ll explore QAOps as a concept, the challenges this approach might present, and some recommended approaches for seamless integration. 

What is QAOps? 

Before we discuss implementation and challenges, let’s cover some basics. QAOps, short for quality assurance operations, is an extension of DevOps principles that aim to ensure quality at every stage by seamlessly integrating testing throughout the software development lifecycle (SDLC). 

QAOps bridges the gap between software development, testing, and operations and emphasizes collaboration to enhance the efficiency and reliability of software releases. 

Research has found that implementing QAOps could help companies achieve up to 50% faster time-to-market and up to 20-30% lower operational costs. 

When implemented correctly, it can unlock: 

  • Enhanced Efficiency: Integrating testing into the CI/CD pipeline reduces manual intervention, ensures consistent quality, and speeds up the release cycles.
  • Faster Time to Market: With streamlined workflows and fewer bottlenecks, software can be developed, tested, and deployed more rapidly.
  • Increased Scalability: Automation and continuous testing make it easier to scale testing efforts up or down as needed.
  • Cost Reduction: Early detection of defects reduces the costly need for fixes post-deployment.
  • Greater Adaptability: Builds resilience into software projects by enabling quick adjustments to testing and development strategies based on real-time feedback and outcomes.

Why is QAOps Challenging to Implement in Legacy Processes?

It can be challenging for organizations with established processes, deeply ingrained cultural norms, and complex legacy systems to adopt modern practices like QAOps rapidly. Some critical challenges include: 

Resistance to Change

Fear of the unknown, perceived risk or comfort with the status quo can lead to resistance from teams accustomed to traditional software development and testing methods. 

Siloed Departments

Since collaboration is central to the success of QAOps, the compartmentalization and siloed processes between development, QA, and operations hinder adoption. 

Incompatible Technology

Automation and continuous testing are challenging in older companies that rely on outdated technologies, often incompatible with modern CI/CD tools and practices.

Advanced Skills

QAOps demands skills in automation, DevOps practices, and tools that may not be present in your current workforce.

Complexity of Existing Systems

Since legacy systems are often complex and monolithic, they are difficult to adapt to the modular and iterative approaches. 

Cultural Inertia

A deeply ingrained culture that prioritizes stability and risk avoidance over innovation and speed can conflict with QA Ops’s agile and flexible nature.

To address these challenges, it is essential for leaders to embrace QAOps as a strategic and gradual integration. Given its complexity and benefits, adopting QAOps requires more than upgrading your technology. It requires a cultural and mindset shift.

Building a QAOps Culture to Ensure Success

Changing cultural norms in a company with decades of history isn’t easy. It requires internal champions, preferably executive leaders, to change and drive innovation.

In our 12 years in the software testing industry, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some of the industry’s greatest minds. We have compiled a few recommended approaches you can leverage to implement a QAOps culture. 

Establish a Clear Vision and Objectives

Clarity is critical whenever you introduce changes. For QAOps to be successful, you’ll need to establish clear and measurable goals and objectives. Ideally, all team members and stakeholders should be working towards common goals.

Foster a Culture of Collaboration

Encourage collaboration by breaking down silos and promoting interdisciplinary teams. Organize workshops, cross-departmental meetings, and joint projects between developers, QA professionals, and operations staff.

Invest in Training and Development

Provide ongoing training and development opportunities for necessary QAOps skills, such as automation tools, CI/CD technologies, and modern testing methodologies. 

Implement Gradual Change

Opt for a phased approach. Start with pilot projects that demonstrate the value of QAOps before scaling them across the organization. This gradual change can help manage risk and build confidence in the new methods.

Embrace Automation

Automate testing processes where possible to increase efficiency, reduce errors, and free up teams to take on more complex tasks. Your automation tools must integrate seamlessly with existing systems to enhance rather than disrupt workflows.

Promote Continuous Learning

Create a feedback loop where insights and lessons from failed experiments inform future improvements. This culture of continuous learning and innovation helps adapt and refine the QAOps approach to better suit your organization’s needs.

Monitor and Measure Success

Define key performance indicators (KPIs) and use them to track the impact of changes and evaluate whether they are delivering the desired outcomes.

Leverage External Expertise

Consider consulting with external experts, like Testlio, who have experience implementing QAOps in similar industries. External partners provide deep knowledge, access to specialized skills, a global perspective, and the ability to adapt to new testing methodologies quickly.

Incorporating their expertise not only accelerates the adoption of QAOps but also augments your organization’s capabilities, making it more agile and better equipped to meet the demands of your customers. 

As you implement QAOps, remember that your teams’ uncertainty and resistance to change are natural. Success will be defined by how you champion a culture where experimentation is encouraged, and collaboration is expected. Implement gradual changes, invest in training, and don’t overlook the benefits of leveraging external expertise where it makes sense. 

If you’re ready to elevate your software testing framework and build a future-ready enterprise, contact a member of our team today. Discover how our customizable solutions can help you seamlessly integrate QAOps within your processes.