Iterative Testing Meaning: Test Cycles in Software Quality

Traditionally, test cycles in software quality ensure the functionality works right, according to the specifications and requirements. Iterative testing meaning expands this further to having the right functionality. For instance:

• Traditional goal of testing: “The button is not working. A problem? Yes.”
• Iterative testing meaning: “Users are not clicking the button. A problem? Well, yes!”

Today, quality software means enabling users to perform tasks smoothly and derive value. What is the value of a working functionality if no one uses it? Generally, features that remain underused signal one or a combination of three issues: (1) poor Experience Design (UX), (2) inadequate Information Architecture (IA), or (3) missing Product-Market fit (PMF). In terms of the underused button, it may mean that:

• Not all users understand that this ‘button’ is clickable, or they try to click, but the area where clicks are caught is too narrow (UX issues);
• Users cannot locate the button: it is either too many levels deep or labelled in a confusing way (bad IA);
• Users do not have a pain point to click this button, or this button is not connected properly to a particular workflow (missed PMF).

As Michael Bolton says:

Testing is something that we do with the motivation of finding new information. Testing is a process of exploration, discovery, investigation, and learning.”

Today’s understanding of quality apps relies on disciplined data-driven testing that makes small adjustments to the product to enable learning, adapting, and improving. 

In this blog post, we’ll focus on how iterative testing works and how its meaning depends on the chosen methodologies. Then, we’ll dive into the most popular iterative testing methods and explore their ROI.

Iterative Testing Meaning: Overview

Iterative testing meaning consists of test cycles that aim to provide learning by detecting friction rather than crashes. As a result of each testing iteration, the data indicates what is working and what’s not. The data can be either any form of user feedback or come from product analytics tools. Yet, the key here is that iterative testing meaning enables data-driven decision-making rather than simply relying on assumptions and guesswork.

Who is responsible?

Traditional testing is often the responsibility of developers (unit testing, integration testing), DevOps (validation tests, automated testing pipelines), and QA specialists (regression testing, end-to-end testing, manual testing, etc). 

In contrast, iterative testing often falls within the responsibility of the Product Manager, Product Owner, Designer, and Analyst. Though it might vary depending on the chosen methodology.

Traditional testing types & Iterative testing types

In regard to ensuring software quality, test cycles depend on both: traditional tests and iterative ones. Traditional testing includes the following:

• Unit testing,
• Integration testing,
• Regression testing,
• End-to-end testing,
• Validation tests, etc.

When it comes to iterative testing meaning, it is a strategic framework. To achieve its implementation, there are the following:

• Usability testing,
• A/B testing,
• Performance analytics,
• Heatmaps,
• Session replays,
• Event tracking, 
• In-app polls,
• Net Promoter Score/CSAT,
• Five-second test,
• Eye tracking, etc.

Both types of testing are essential for quality software. While achieving business goals depends largely on iterative testing, iterative testing success depends on traditional testing consistency and coverage. After all, if users are rage-clicking on a button for which a nearby element blocks a substantial clickable area, this is a traditional testing problem – a faulty UI. Trying to change its size, animation, or text over and over again while it is partially blocked will not provide any meaningful business insight. So both testing types must work together to ensure that the startup’s efforts are directed efficiently. 

Iterative Testing Meaning in SDLC Methodologies

There are 4 fundamental types of software development: Waterfall, Staged, Spiral, and Agile. In short, they are:

• In the Waterfall methodology, development is a single sequential process from idea to product in a step-by-step manner. The result of the process is a finished product, and there is rarely any change to the plan.
• In Staged, development is set in the stages of managerial phases. Each stage is a single sequential process that delivers certain value-adding functionality. The finished product is a result of several stages. The results of the completed stage can alter the plans for the next one. 
• Spiral development is purely iterative in nature. Each new spiral moves closer to the right solution. At the start, there is no description of the final product; there is only a problem statement. It is best for innovative ideas and complex solutions.
• Agile development combines iterations with a certain degree of planning. At the start, there is a somewhat clear idea of what is being built; however, iterations welcome changes and pivots. 

Overall, Staged and Waterfall methodologies prioritize planning, do not allow for much change, and are not iterative. Therefore, testing plays a more formal role of complying with initial specs. In contrast, Spiral and Agile are flexible and iterative methodologies where testing shapes the final product. 

Test Cycles in Waterfall

The purpose of testing in the Waterfall methodology is to verify. After the implementation phase is complete, the testing aims to check that the build works as specified in the initial requirements. There can be User Acceptance Testing or a beta phase. However, it turns out to be a ‘moment of truth’, indicating whether money was well spent. After all, even if testing reveals substantial defects in PMF or confusing information architecture, there is little to do. Major changes will require starting over, and usually, only superficial, small tweaks are possible. This is the core reason why the Waterfall methodology is rarely used these days. Its use can be feasible only in a small fraction of cases, such as high-compliance solutions with fixed scope or updates to legacy systems.

Test Cycles in Staged

 PRINCE2 is one of the Staged methodologies. There are at least two main management stages, such as initiation and delivery, and one pre-planning stage. In this methodology, testing occurs at the stage boundary. The stage boundary finalizes with the stage report and the preparation of a plan for the next stage. Testing here plays a few roles:

1. Testing the product against the Quality Register to ensure that the build meets the criteria set out at the pre-planning;
2. Analytics and user feedback are used to determine whether the product should continue to the next stage.

In comparison with the Waterfall, Staged still uses a lot of planning, yet it is already less risky. The majority of use cases include organizations with strict governance and well-defined managerial roles, such as healthcare projects, construction, or public sector initiatives.

Iterative Testing Meaning in Spiral Development

This methodology is best suitable for projects where the goal is to build something innovative, complex, or mission-critical where failure is not acceptable. For instance, NASA’s space shuttle program followed the Spiral methodology. Large-scale SaaS applications and large games naturally lend themselves to Spiral development. 

Iterations in spiral development rely heavily on iterative testing. Every spiral includes paper prototypes, clickable prototypes, or wireframes of different fidelity (low, mid, high). Iterative testing meaning reveals itself in full here: tests change and evolve depending on the project’s needs. 

For example, let’s imagine large-scale SaaS app development:

1. Testing the PMF. Some of the most popular tools include Fake Door experiments and Competitor Gap analysis through user interviews. In the first one, a simple landing page showcases the value proposition, and a “Join Waitlist” button evaluates the interest. In terms of searching for a market gap, user interviews are conducted to shed light on whether existing SaaS products do not solve users’ pain points. 
2. Once there is a clear idea of the users’ pain points, it is time to organize the solution. Testing the right information architecture might be a Spiral 2. Frequent testing tools include card sorting, tree testing, and flow charts. The main goal is to make sure that the model of the solution matches the users’ mental model. 
3. Testing the UX. Here, you already might have clickable low-fidelity prototypes. The users participate in a variety of testing tasks: measuring task completion (e.g., complete onboarding under 2 minutes), or ‘think-aloud’ sessions where users navigate the prototype and say what they think as they navigate through the menus and screens. 
4. Testing the scale in beta. Beta testing cycles often include heatmaps, event tracking, and A/B testing. They aim to reveal underused features and points of friction. 

Iterative Testing Meaning in Agile

In Spiral development above, a fail on a test is a positive business result that moves the development closer to the right solution. As such, there can be a few spirals working with prototypes on each of the points, such as PMF, IA, and UX, before any development happens. 

In contrast, Agile development focuses less on prototyping but more on testing with real users. While the initial iteration will include prototypes and wireframes, the focus is on time-to-market and building an MVP. Beta testing cycles take precedence here. MVP Startup Services use iterative testing to quickly achieve PMF based on what users actually do with the product. Iterative testing meaning here focuses on behavior & interaction testing. Other testing methods are present as supporting ones, such as attitudinal (e.g., in-app polls) and evaluative (e.g., eye tracking). The most common methods include:

• Heatmaps (tests IA);
• Session replays (tests UX);
• Event tracking (checks PMF);
• User flow analysis (finds friction points).

As MVP matures, it is feasible to add A/B testing. The reason for postponing A/B testing in MVP development is that in the early days, the product might have fewer users. As a result, A/B testing will not have sufficient statistical significance. So, the best timing for A/B testing is late beta and growth stages. 

Cost-Benefit Analysis of Iterative Testing

While there are many iterative testing tools, we’ll provide a cost-benefit analysis for a few that are generally always used in most startups. 

Usability Testing

As NN Group states:

“Elaborate usability tests are a waste of resources. The best results come from testing no more than 5 users and running as many small tests as you can afford.”

In the graph below, they show the number of issues usability testing reveal depending on the number of users: 

• Zero users equals zero insights,
• Testing with a single user already reveal the third of all possible issues. 
• Usability testing with 5 users will reveal around 85% of all possible problems. 
• Testing with 15 users is likely to reveal all usability issues. 

However, testing with real users costs money. So, a lean and more cost-efficient way will be to test three prototypes/MVPs with 5 users rather than one of these with 15. The smaller the startup budget is, the better it is to decrease the number of users for testing, but increase the number of test cycles. Yet, testing with one and the same user over and over again might lead to biased results. So, the ideal range for usability testing to provide the highest ROI is between 3 and 5 users per run. 

Heatmaps and Session Replays

For the Spiral development, there is a need to have real users. However, for MVP-driven Agile development, the need for real users can be minimal. Instead, having a real product in the market allows for tools to gather insights, such as heatmaps and session recordings. For startups, there are sufficient free tiers with tools such as Microsoft Clarity, Pendo, FullSession,  UX Cam, LogRocket, or Hotjar Basic. According to Zigpol:

“Free solutions have limits on session volume and advanced filtering. That means you must prioritize which pages or funnels to track. Don’t spread your resources thin chasing full-site coverage. Instead, pick the 1-2 highest-traffic or conversion-critical pages first.”

Overall, iterative testing can be faster as there is no need to recruit users and much cheaper as the only cost is the time the PM/analyst watches session replays or analyzes heatmaps. The stats on these methods reveal varied results between 20% to 110% improvements in page conversion rates. Yet, with these tools, the improvements are possible across many business metrics. With the little investment it requires, the ROI will largely stay positive. 

FAQ: Iterative Testing Meaning: Test Cycles in Software Quality