Automation Testing Feasibility Analysis

Automation Testing Feasibility Analysis:

 Feasibility Analysis plays an important role in automation testing. Basically it can be referred as a checklist against which we need to check if the particular test case can be automated.

From the point of automation, few points which can be found in any checklist are as follows:

•  If all steps are documented properly in the test case.
•  If the test case needs to be executed only one time, then we can test it using manual testing as automation testing is quite useful if we are going to be used in regression pack only.
•  Objects in the application can be identified by automation tool or not.
•  Most important point is ROI (Return of Investment).

Now I would like to throw some more light on ROI.

In general term, return of investment (ROI) refers to a way of considering profit in relation to capital invested.
The same applies in the case of the automation testing. Different organizations may have different approach to calculate ROI. In general,it can be calculated by dividing the net benefits of the automation effort by the cost of the automation effort.

Return                   What you get out           Benefits

ROI         =  ---------------  =     --------------------  =  -----------

Investment            What you put in               Cost

 Benefits is calculated in the below manner.

TS = TM – TA

Where,

TS = Time saved due to test automation

TM = Time taken for manual testing

TA = Time taken for automated testing

 Investment is given by:

CA = CHS + CDM+ CT

Where,

CA = Cost of automation

CHS = Cost of hardware and software (this can be apportioned over many testing engagements)

CDM = Cost of developing and maintaining automation script

CT = Cost of training staff on automation tools (this can be apportioned over many testing engagements)

 As a function of time, the ROI for automation is sometimes defined as:


                            Delta (Benefits from automation over manual)

ROI (t) =      -----------------------------------------------------------

                            Delta (Cost of automation over manual)


                                    Net Quantifiable Benefit

ROI         =              --------------------------------

                                               Net Cost
 

The key parameters that should be considered while initializing the ROI exercise are:

•  Understand the focus of automation with respect to reducing testing cycle time, maximizing test coverage, reaching the market faster, cost benefits, etc.

• Estimate the regression test repository, with respect to effort and cost

• Choice of test automation tools

• Automate the entire regression test suite versus taking incremental automation approach

• Understand the product life cycle and its technology road map

•  Test Automation Framework design