What do you do if project managers aren't receptive to software testers' deadline concerns?

Priorize problemas, classificando riscos por impacto e propondo soluções rápidas. Colabore ativamente, participando de reuniões regulares e envolvendo toda a equipe nas discussões. Se os problemas persistirem, use canais formais para escalá-los e informe stakeholders sobre os riscos. Proponha soluções alternativas, como redistribuição de recursos, ajustes no escopo dos testes e automação de tarefas repetitivas. Participe de retrospectivas para melhorar processos e realize workshops para educar gerentes sobre a importância dos testes e o impacto de ignorar preocupações com prazos. Essa abordagem proativa e colaborativa ajuda a alinhar expectativas e garantir que as preocupações dos testadores sejam tratadas adequadamente.

We should focus on clear and active communication within the team. During daily standup or during planning try to give actual estimates/efforts on a particular story by analysing the story and keeping maybe some time as buffer. If team has concerns with the estimates show them what you are thinking and why you think this much time will be consumed by this story. At the end if still your estimates goes wrong and while testing you are feeling like you will not be able to complete it on time discuss with your manager what problems you are facing and maybe pull another resource with you if deadline is fixed or try to cover as much scope as possible by your own.

The Testing phase in addition to being a validation of proper system function and meeting of requirements - is also a psychological measurement for acceptance of change by Clients. Success in this phase is important! The Client will put up time barriers due to competing priorities. However, there is also the consideration of the Provider also having delays in development, presentation or remediation. There are multiple inputs - recognize that. If the project is against the time allotted due to testing - negotiate. Make the Client recognize that testing needs to be prioritized. The PM, Consultant and others in a time crunch also need to work harder to guide the Client to the solution. Plan the time and necessary slack in the project.

If a project manager is not receptive to software deadline concerns, I would present detailed evidence of the risks and propose feasible solutions. If necessary, I'd escalate the issue to stakeholders to emphasize the importance of realistic timelines for ensuring quality deliverables.

These are a few points which you can consider- - Acknowledge PM Pressures: Understand the external pressures PMs face, such as client expectations and market demands. - Broader Context: Recognize the need to balance project timelines with quality and client satisfaction. - Empathy and Dialogue: Show empathy towards PM challenges and open a constructive dialogue to address testing concerns.

In my 5 years of experience, I have observed that often when deadlines are approaching, we start rushing to complete tasks. Sometimes, at the beginning of a project, we waste several days because proper tasks are not assigned, or there is a communication gap. This leads to a lack of clear understanding of the tasks at the start, which causes problems later on. We then have to redo work to fix issues. To reduce this extra work, it's essential to have clear communication from the start. This ensures that developers understand exactly what needs to be achieved in the end.

Here's a concise comment integrating your experience at Axis Consulting: --- Clear communication is crucial when discussing deadline concerns with project managers. At Axis Consulting, I found that articulating the risks of tight deadlines, such as potential system errors or failures, in business impact terms is essential. Using visual aids or reports to support these points enhances clarity. It's also beneficial to propose realistic timelines and explain their rationale, positioning yourself as a problem solver rather than a hindrance.

Die Kommunikation sollte möglich direkt und persönlich (protokolliert) erfolgen, alternativ per Videochat, nachfolgend im Rang telefonisch und zuletzt per Mail. Je weniger Informationsgehalt die Kommunikationsform hat, desto schlechter.

Communication starts with listening. Here's what I've found works best: 1. Talk to your PM extensively about work and not work. Understand what your PM values (and undervalues). 2. Try to understand what their communication style is. What gets a quick & positive response? What gets no response at all? Analyze that without making it personal or judgmental. 3. Once you understand what is important to the PM and how they communicate, address your concerns through the lens of PM to help them see why it is important to them and their objectives. 4. Outline clearly the results of a few different options. That will help the PM to make the best judgment call and you dont have to worry.

Esteja aberto ao feedback dos gerentes de projeto e disposto a ajustar suas propostas conforme necessário. A colaboração contínua pode ajudar a encontrar soluções que satisfaçam ambas as partes.

From my experience with multiple projects, clear communication is essential to ensure concerns are heard and addressed effectively. We can also use the following approaches to handle this situation. *Present Data and Evidence: Collect data on past testing cycles and presenting factual evidence to illustrate why the current deadlines may be unrealistic. Clearly articulate the potential impact of inadequate testing on the project's overall quality, user experience, and long-term cost *Propose Solutions: Suggest realistic timelines based on your team's capacity and past performance data. Propose risk mitigation strategies, such as focusing on high-priority test cases first or conducting parallel testing to optimise available time.

Based on my experience at Axis Consulting, offering solutions alongside concerns about deadlines has always proven effective. By suggesting phased testing or additional resources, we ensured project success and maintained strong collaboration with stakeholders.

Suggest meeting regularly to review testing progress and adjust plans as needed. This ensures everyone is aware of challenges and schedule changes.

When presenting deadline concerns, always accompany them with potential solutions. This could involve suggesting a phased testing approach, where critical features are tested first, or recommending additional resources to meet the desired timelines. By being proactive and presenting options, you demonstrate your commitment to the project's success and your willingness to collaborate on finding a workable solution. This approach shows that you are not just identifying problems but also actively working towards resolving them. It helps build trust and makes it more likely that your concerns will be taken seriously.

When raising deadline concerns, offer solutions like phased testing or extra resources. This shows commitment and a willingness to collaborate.

Prioritizing tasks means deciding what needs to be done first based on its importance and urgency. It involves looking at all the tasks you have to do and deciding which ones are most critical to the project's success or need to be completed soonest. By prioritizing effectively, you ensure that you focus your time and effort on the most impactful tasks first, which helps in meeting deadlines and achieving project goals. This approach also helps in managing workload and resources efficiently, ensuring that you stay organized and productive throughout the project.

Prioritizing tasks is crucial for managing testing within tight deadlines. Collaborate with the project manager to identify and test the most critical features first. This ensures that the essential parts of the software are thoroughly verified, even if time is limite

Eine Mitarbeiterführung sollte die kommenden Aufgaben fokussieren und nur einen groben Ausblick nach hinten geben. So kann die Konzentration bei der aktuellen Arbeit bleiben.

Prioritizing tasks is a pragmatic way to manage testing within tight deadlines. Work with the project manager to identify which features or functions are most critical to the project's success and should be tested first. This prioritization ensures that if time runs out, the most essential parts of the software have been thoroughly checked for quality assurance. By focusing on the most critical aspects first, you can provide the highest value in the shortest amount of time. This approach helps in maintaining the overall quality of the project despite the time constraints.

Planning should be comprehensive and involve team discussions. While deadlines are important, they should not override the quality of the deliverables. If necessary, discuss with the customer about extending timelines to maintain high-quality standards.

To achieve a balance between quality and faster delivery is the inclusion of QA team members into meetings with the clients since the very beginning. This also eliminates the possibility of having communication problems that may arise from just referring to a broader level of the BRDs as documentation alone isn’t always enough for the complete understanding of the requirements and therefore PMs end up having multiple meetings with each team separately. Also to mention, this can lead to reduced pressure on the PM directly.

This is crucial for aligning expectations & fostering a collaborative environment. By demystifying the testing process, testers can illustrate the complexities involved and the critical role sufficient testing time plays in ensuring product stability. Sharing tangible examples of past projects where thorough testing led to successful outcomes can underscore the value of investing in this phase. It’s also beneficial to communicate the risks and potential costs of inadequate testing, such as increased bug fixes and diminished user satisfaction. This education helps to secure necessary resources and build trust, and demonstrates the value of the testing function in delivering high-quality software.

Sometimes, education is necessary to bridge the gap between software testers and project managers. Take the time to inform stakeholders about the testing process, including how sufficient testing time contributes to a more stable and reliable product. Highlighting past successes where adequate testing has led to positive outcomes can also help in making your case. By educating stakeholders, you build a shared understanding of the importance of testing. This shared understanding can lead to better support for testing timelines and priorities.

Tanto Gerentes de proyecto como Evaluadores deben conocer las razones de cada area, de tal manera que cuando se comprometa el Gerente a un tiempo de entrega sea veridico y alcanzable, y a su vez los probadores de SW tengan muy presente que esa fecha es real y deben de comprometerse a terminar en tiempo y forma.

You often encounter significant pressure to meet project deadlines and deliver high-quality results. Balancing tight timelines with thorough testing requirements can result in stress and potential burnout. Effective time and resource management, task prioritization, and delegation are essential for maintaining quality standards without compromise. The ability to remain composed under pressure is crucial in this role. While these challenges present obstacles, they also serve as opportunities for professional growth and advancement. By confronting these challenges directly and implementing effective strategies, test leads can successfully navigate difficulties and play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of the software testing process.

When project managers don't listen to software testers' deadline concerns, it's important to find common ground through clear communication and backing up your points with data. In one project, even though management was initially hesitant, I shared specific examples of how rushing testing could impact quality and introduce risks. This approach sparked a productive discussion where we adjusted timelines collaboratively to ensure thorough testing while still meeting project goals.

Seeking compromise in deadline disputes is essential for balancing thorough testing with project timelines. It’s crucial to identify which aspects of the project are non-negotiable and which can be adjusted. Effective compromise involves transparent communication, where both sides openly discuss their constraints and priorities. One strategy might be to prioritize critical tests that directly impact the user experience while deferring less critical ones to post-launch. This approach ensures that essential quality is maintained while meeting deadlines. Flexibility and a willingness to adapt satisfy both the need for quality and the pressures of tight schedules.

Sometimes QA Engineers and Testers tend to be of a perfectionist nature which may cause deadline disruptions and this often leads to the increase of pressure on the PM. It is important to have the thought subconsciously that it is a team effort and without the client being happy, there is no fruitful outcome even if you deliver the best quality product once the deadline has crossed. Time sensitive tasks and punctuality have to go hand in hand.

Disputes over tight deadlines might end up in you, as a tester, will compromise that the project delivery will need to be done even without testing. This happened on a version of the project to be able to deliver quicker to the market.