Defect Management Process

Here is a sample defect management process with 4 statuses for the defects:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.