Here is a sample defect management process with 4 statuses for the defects:
- Defect Creation:
- When a defect is identified, it should be logged into the defect management tool with the following details:
- Defect ID
- Description of the defect
- Steps to reproduce the defect, with either screenshots or videos.
- Environment where the defect was found
- Severity of the defect
- Priority of the defect
- Name of the person who found the defect
- The defect should be assigned to the relevant team or individual for further analysis.
- Defect Analysis:
- The assigned team or individual will analyze the defect and determine its cause, impact, and resolution.
- The defect should be updated with the following details:
- Root cause of the defect
- Impact of the defect on the system
- Recommended solution to fix the defect
- The defect can be reassigned to another team or individual for further analysis if needed.
- Defect Fixing:
- The assigned team or individual will implement the recommended solution to fix the defect.
- The defect should be updated with the following details:
- Code changes made to fix the defect
- Test cases created or updated to verify the fix
- Build number or version where the fix was made
- The defect can be reassigned to another team or individual for further testing if needed.
- Defect Closure:
- The defect is closed when the fix has been verified and tested successfully.
- The defect should be updated with the following details:
- Test results that verify the fix
- Closed date of the defect
- The defect status should be changed to “Closed”.
Priority and Severity are two different attributes of a defect. Priority refers to the importance of fixing a defect and Severity refers to the impact of a defect on the system or user. Here are the differences between Priority and Severity:
- Priority:
- Priority indicates the urgency of fixing a defect based on its impact on the project or business goals.
- Priority levels can range from “High” to “Low” or “Critical” to “Minor”.
- A “High” priority defect is critical and should be fixed immediately to prevent any negative impact on the project or business.
- A “Low” priority defect is minor and can be fixed at a later stage of the project.
- Severity:
- Severity indicates the impact of a defect on the system or user.
- Severity levels can range from S1 (critical) to S4 (lowest).
- A “S1” severity defect is a major issue that prevents the system from functioning correctly or causes data loss.
- A “S4” severity defect is a minor issue that does not affect the overall functionality of the system.
Overall, a defect management process should have a clear and structured approach to managing defects, with defined statuses and attributes such as Priority and Severity to help prioritize and manage defects effectively.