Software: Reopen Defects

 

Working in Software development environment as leaders, all of us faced the issue of defects, which are Reopen by Testing and Quality teams.

Why it is important to address the reopen defects?

Being in Software development everyone comes across the reappearing of the defects declared fixed by the development team. It is important to address the reasons behind reopen as quickly as possible to avoid more defects appear in this category. Fixing of Reopen defects always takes extra effort and cost. It is called Rework.

Reopen defects may cause:

• Delay in delivery
• Efforts overrun
• Schedule overrun
• Risk of impacting other items while fixing reopen

While considering the reason to address Re-open defects. One of the most important exercises, which is very essential to target reopen defects,  this exercise is called a causal analysis of re-open defects.  

Root cause analysis gives the idea about where improvements needed while looking into possible reasons for reopening.

• Inadequate QA coverage.
• Incomplete Implementation.
• Non-adherence of process/causing gaps.
• Lack of technical knowledge.

Root cause analysis without corrective actions is a futile exercise. The below table gives a more pictorial representation of linking root causes and action items.

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