A window into Lenvi's QA approach

The QA team at Lenvi consists of seven teams, each playing a vital role in maintaining the quality of our solutions. Like any team, there is always room for improvement, and in a recent review of our QA processes we recognised an opportunity to streamline and enhance our approach. The outcome? A renewed focus on collaboration to ensure we make best use of our collective experience and technical skills.  

In this article, QA Team Lead, Matthew Whitaker gives you an insight into how we co-ordinate QA at Lenvi.  

QA cornerstones 

When we set out to refine our QA process, our top priority was to improve collaboration within the QA department, no matter what team they’re in. We knew that by fostering a more collaborative environment, we could naturally improve morale – supporting people to realise that they are not alone in their challenges and enabling them to discuss how to tackle these together. Plus, it opens the door to greater social engagement within the team too. 

Another key focus was on standardising our approach. By bringing all teams together under a single framework we can better support management while ensuring consistency in the information and feedback we provide to the rest of the business. Through adopting this approach, we also aimed to enable QAs to move between teams without stress and allow them to focus attentions on how the new platform or solution works and build bonds within their squads.  

Our Objectives 

• Fostering a culture where teams are aware of each other’s work and expertise, to improve communication and team cohesion. 
• Standardising our processes and tools across teams to maintain uniform standards and approaches; boosting overall performance and adaptability. 

Implementing the Changes 

In late 2023, we initiated several key changes: 

1. Unified QA Meetings: We replaced individual team catch-ups with department-wide QA updates, allowing everyone to get acquainted and stay informed about each other's work.
2. Community of Practice (CoP) Meetings: Originally for one product team, we expanded these bi-weekly meetings to include the entire QA team, fostering a culture of sharing and learning.
3. Social Interaction Initiatives: We introduced informal "coffee and chat" meetings on Monday mornings and Friday afternoons, encouraging team members to connect on a personal level. These 15-minute, non-mandatory meetings are a great way for the team to connect on a personal level and strengthen relationships.
4. Centralised Tools: We streamlined our tool usage. We consolidated all Postman collections into a single company event, improving accessibility and collaboration. We also adopted the JIRA plugin, Zephyr Squad, for test management. This supported the uniformity of methods and enhanced transparency by allowing everyone to see the activities and progress within the QA department. Although Zephyr has only been in use for a short while, it is already showing significant benefits. The use of dashboards has also benefited the wider business with clear and accessible information, further improving communication and efficiency.
5. QA Guidelines: We shifted from multiple "processes" to a unified set of "QA Guidelines." This flexible framework allows teams to adapt while maintaining a shared vision and objectives for quality assurance. 

Our QA team maintains an open-door policy for new tools and methodologies, discussed bi-weekly to explore and share potential innovations. We also develop proof of concepts to demonstrate feasibility, secure team support, and ensure successful implementation. We have many more ventures to take within the QA tooling world, so watch this space! 

Progress and wins 

These initiatives have made a significant impact on how we communicate and collaborate as a QA team. The centralised use of tools like Postman and Zephyr Squad has standardised our processes, making it easier for team members to transition between projects and share insights. 

The implementation of QA Guidelines has been particularly successful. It provides a clear, adaptable structure that aligns with the agile mindset of our company, ensuring everyone works towards common goals without feeling constrained by rigid processes. 

Moving Forward 

We’ve made great strides, but this is just the beginning. At Lenvi, we’re committed to continuously embedding new changes and explore new technologies to further enhance our QA processes. We’ll keep building on our achievements to stay at the cutting edge of quality assurance, using innovative tools and methodologies to lead the way. 

Got any questions about our QA practices or want to see how our solutions can transform your lending business? Reach out to us today or book a demo. We’d love to chat!