A quality assurance (QA) team can be involved at multiple stages in the software development lifecycle, but they are primarily called in during the following stages:
- Testing: This is the most critical stage for QA teams, as their primary role is to validate and verify that the software meets the required standards and functions correctly.
However, QA teams can also contribute in other stages:
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Designing: They may provide input on quality standards, requirements, and testability of the design.
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Development: While not as common, QA may participate in code reviews or help developers understand quality metrics and standards.
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Deployment: They may assist in ensuring that the deployment process is smooth and that all tests are executed prior to or during deployment.
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Maintenance: QA teams may also be involved in ensuring that updates and patches maintain quality standards and do not introduce new issues.
In summary, while their primary focus is on the Testing stage, their involvement can extend across the entire software development lifecycle.