Bug Advocacy: A Practical Guide for Software Teams

Software bugs: we all find them. But how many of us can truly champion their resolution? That's where bug advocacy comes in. It's the art of persuasion in software testing. It's about clearly communicating the impact of bugs and making a compelling case for why fixing them is critical. Ready to become a more effective advocate for quality software and a stronger bug tester? Let's explore the essential elements of bug advocacy and what it really means.

Bug advocacy in software testing refers to actively and assertively presenting and promoting identified bugs to stakeholders. This includes developers, product managers, and project leads. As Muhammad Mamunur Rashid points out, it's "about more than just finding bugs; it's about making sure those bugs get fixed." Bug advocacy ensures reported issues are addressed and resolved, ultimately improving the software's quality. It requires persistence, clear communication, and a deep understanding of the bug's impact. This goes beyond simply reporting the bug; it involves clearly explaining its potential consequences and advocating for its prioritization.

Effective bug advocacy involves providing context and information beyond basic test results. Think about adding details like competitor comparisons, potential legal issues, cost implications, and how the bug impacts the user experience. According to Rahul Parwal in his article on Enhancing Software Quality, this comprehensive approach helps stakeholders understand the bug's significance and its potential business impact. The goal, as Parwal notes, "is not just to find bugs, but to ensure they are addressed effectively to improve the final product." For more streamlined and effective bug reporting and advocacy, consider exploring automated testing solutions like those offered by MuukTest.

I have condensed my thoughts on Bug Advocacy in this article. I will discuss bug advocacy using the 5W1H (What, Where, Who, Why, When, and How) approach.

What is Bug Advocacy?

From a learner’s perspective, Bug Advocacy is the persuasive art of advocating for bug fixes. However, for bug advocacy practitioners, this skill often extends beyond advocating for bug fixes. It also involves advocacy for:

• Quality: Jerry Weinberg defines quality as value to someone. Bug advocacy involves emphasizing the potential value loss from bugs.
• Customers: Different stakeholders often have different perceptions of value. An external customer may not appreciate what is valuable to an internal customer. Bug Advocacy involves looking at the issue from all perspectives.
• Product Success: You can experience momentary success in certain situations. However, long-term product success comes from the rigor of engineering discipline, conscious decisions, and judgments. Advocacy will help you present information to allow your stakeholders to make well-informed decisions.

Now that you know what Bug Advocacy is, it is equally important to understand what it is NOT. There are a few things that are often misunderstood as Bug Advocacy:

• Embarrassing programmers
• Advocating for any random issue.
• Showcasing a wrong picture to the stakeholders by misleading compelling stories.

Where to Use Bug Advocacy?

Bug Advocacy skills can be used during verbal communication during triage calls or during Mention In Passings (MIPs). However, verbal communication is often limited to an audience who is present at that time.

As testers, one of the primary work products is the Bug/Issue Reports, which most testers use to build an influential report. In addition, using it for communication via email or chat can be helpful.

Who Uses Bug Advocacy?

Often, Bug Advocacy is used by responsible testers whose main responsibility is testing. In addition, it can also assist supporting testers/developers with building good case studies around bugs that matter and influence decision-making.

Why Do We Use Bug Advocacy?

Hopefully, you have already understood why bug advocacy is important. Here are some more reasons why you should consider learning this skill:

• Get the RIGHT bugs fixed 
• Overcome objections
• Hedge against potential future loss
• Promote quality consciousness
• Prevent technical communication failure 
• Building credibility
• Enabling efficient decision-making

When Do We Use Bug Advocacy?

Your Bug Advocacy Skills will be helpful throughout the Project Life Cycle. However, there are specific considerations based on the stage of your project that may help you be more effective as a tester.

• Early to mid-stage of the project: Identifying different bugs in the early stages will give you an advantage when advocating. It is easy to advocate for the following areas at an early stage:
  • Design issues
  • UI / UX issues
  • Usability issues
  • Accessibility issues
  • Any other impacting issue

• Late / End Stage of the project: This is the time to focus on major and critical bugs. Don’t wait to advocate such issue(s) in the final stages:
  • Design issues
  • Minor Low Impact issues

How Do We Use Bug Advocacy?

Once you understand the What, Where, Who, Why, and When, the most important question is HOW to start with Bug Advocacy?

I will list some of the top tips to help you get started with Bug Advocacy:

• Add Information Beyond Test Results: You will always gain an edge by adding information that isn’t directly visible. Here are a few areas to look for such information:
  • Competitor Comparison: Everyone wants to perform better than their competitors. Are we aligned with the state-of-the-art?
  • Concerns of Stakeholders: Quality is valuable to someone. Look for the concerns of that someone!
  • Predicted Criticism: Are there some past incidents where similar issues have brought criticism?
  • Usability Weakness: Is it too hard to use? Will we lose out on potential customers because of this?
  • Expert Opinion: What do the experts and important authorities say about such issues?
  • Legal Issues: Can we end up in legal trouble that no one has considered?
  • Credible Sources: What do credible sources say about such issues?
  • Support Costs: Can this inflate our support/marketing costs?

• Motivate the Programmer: Programmers are usually the first line of defense for any proposed bug fix. However, in certain cases, they would want to fix the bugs immediately:
  • The bug looks really “BAD.”
  • The bug will affect “LOTS” of people.
  • Getting to the bug is “TRIVIALLY” easy.
  • Bug “BREACHES” the contract or “EMBARRASSES” the Company.

• Write Quality Technical Reports: The more you simplify, the better people will understand. Here are a few tips to help you write quality technical reports:
  • Write the summary/title clearly.
  • Have a clear and consistent tone.
  • Eliminate grammar/typo Issues; proofread once or twice.
  • Logically group your supporting arguments:
    • Impact
    • Risk
    • Support Costs, etc.

• Research the Failure Conditions: Don’t rush into reporting the bug if you find a failure. In many cases, what you are experiencing might be a symptom of a larger problem. Here are some tips to help you with researching failures well:
  • Look beyond the symptoms.
  • Do follow-up work to prove that the issue is:
    • More severe than it appears
    • More general than it appears
  • Try to find other follow-up errors by varying:
    • Data
    • Behavior
    • Options & settings
    • Software & hardware environment
• Conserve your state (& steps)

For all our visual readers, I have summarized this entire article in the form of this mind map

I hope this article helped you learn more about bug advocacy and how to start with your bug advocacy journey. If you want to dive deep into this topic, I have also added a few references for you:

• Bug Advocacy by Rahul Parwal et al. [Leanpub PDF/iPad/Kindle]
• Software Bug… by Ajay Balamurugadas et al. [PDF/iPad/Kindle] (leanpub.com)
• BBST Bug Advocacy (testingeducation.org)
• Appendix: Common Software Errors (testingeducation.org)

Happy Testing, happy advocating!

Key Takeaways

• Effective bug advocacy gets bugs fixed. It's about understanding a bug's full impact and clearly communicating its potential consequences to stakeholders. Consider the bigger picture: how does this bug affect the user, the business, and the product's overall success? Then, advocate for its prioritization.
• Strong bug reports are your best advocacy tool. A well-crafted report gives developers the information they need to understand and fix the issue efficiently. Include clear steps to reproduce the bug, expected versus actual results, and supporting information that highlights the bug's impact and risk.
• Context matters in bug advocacy. A minor bug found early in development needs a different approach than a critical bug discovered right before release. Consider the timing and prioritize your advocacy efforts accordingly.

Steps to Effective Bug Advocacy

1. Find and Reproduce the Bug: Thoroughly test the software to identify and consistently reproduce the bug. Like any good experiment, you need to be able to replicate the results. Document the steps to reproduce it clearly. Think of it like giving someone directions—the clearer the better.
2. Rate Severity and Priority: Assess the bug's impact on users and the urgency of fixing it. A good Muuk Test Blog post I read emphasized understanding the root cause, not just the symptoms. Use a clear rating system (e.g., critical, high, medium, low) for both severity and priority. This helps everyone understand the relative importance of the bug.
3. Write a Detailed Bug Report: Create a comprehensive bug report including title, description, steps to reproduce, expected vs. actual results, screenshots, error messages, system information, and assigned severity/priority. The Muuk Test team recommends writing clear, concise reports that focus on impact and risk.
4. Communicate with Developers: Talk directly to the programmers responsible for fixing the bug. Effective communication with developers is key. Clearly explain the issue, its impact, and the steps to reproduce it. Answer any questions they may have. Building a good rapport with developers can make the whole process smoother.
5. Follow Up and Escalate if Necessary: Regularly check on the bug's status. If it's not being addressed promptly, escalate the issue to management. Persistence is key, but always be professional and respectful.

Crafting a Strong Bug Report

A well-written bug report is crucial for effective bug advocacy. As Bach and Bolton point out, "The quality of your reports is probably the single most important factor determining your credibility as a tester." A strong report makes your advocacy more effective. Make sure to include these elements:

• Clear and concise title
• Detailed description of the bug
• Step-by-step reproduction instructions
• Expected vs. actual results
• Screenshots and error messages
• System information (e.g., browser, operating system)
• Assigned severity and priority
• Supporting information (context, competitor comparisons, stakeholder concerns, potential legal issues, cost implications)

Tailoring Your Approach

Adapt your bug advocacy approach based on the project stage and the specific bug. The timing of your advocacy can be just as important as the content. A critical bug found late in development requires a different approach than a minor bug found early on. Context is everything.

Focus on Impact and Risk

Frame your bug reports and communication with a focus on the impact and risk of the bug. The Muuk Test Blog highlights the importance of motivating programmers by emphasizing severity and impact. Explain the potential consequences of not fixing the bug, such as user frustration, data loss, or financial impact. Think about the real-world implications.

Thorough Bug Research

Invest time in researching the bug to understand its root cause and potential consequences. The Muuk Test Blog suggests looking beyond the immediate symptoms and doing follow-up work to understand the broader impact. This will help you present a stronger case for fixing it and provide valuable insights to the development team. A little extra research can go a long way.

Further Learning

Consider taking a course on bug advocacy, such as the Bug Advocacy Community Track offered by the Association for Software Testing (AST). These courses provide in-depth training on effective bug reporting and communication techniques. Investing in your skills is always a good idea.

Related Articles

• Bug Advocacy: Enhancing Software Quality
• Is Your Software's Quality Suffering Due to Bad Practices?
• Accessibility: How to Get Buy-in to Include A11Y Testing - MuukTest
• Your Ultimate Guide to Software Testing Solutions
• Exploratory Testing: The Ultimate Guide (2024)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is bug advocacy the same as bug reporting?

No. Bug reporting is a part of bug advocacy, but advocacy goes further. Think of it like this: reporting is submitting a request, while advocacy is making a compelling case for why that request should be granted. It involves highlighting the impact of the bug, potential risks, and the value of fixing it. It's about persuasion and ensuring the bug gets the attention it deserves.

How can I be persuasive without being annoying?

Focus on providing clear, concise, and impactful information. Back up your claims with evidence like competitor analysis, user impact assessments, or potential financial implications. Present the facts objectively and professionally, focusing on the benefits of fixing the bug rather than blaming anyone. Building strong relationships with developers also helps; respectful communication goes a long way.

What if my bug report is ignored?

Follow up! A gentle reminder can sometimes be all it takes. If the bug is still not being addressed, escalate it to the appropriate channels, such as your manager or a project lead. When escalating, reiterate the bug's impact and risk, and explain why it's important to address it. Be persistent but professional.

How much detail should I include in my bug report?

Include enough detail to reproduce the bug and understand its impact. This means clear steps to reproduce, expected versus actual results, screenshots, error messages, and system information. Also, consider adding context, such as competitor comparisons or user impact assessments, to strengthen your case. Aim for clarity and conciseness; avoid overwhelming the reader with unnecessary information.

What if I'm not a "natural" advocate?

Advocacy is a skill you can develop. Start by focusing on clear and concise communication, backing up your claims with evidence, and building relationships with stakeholders. Practice explaining technical issues in a way that non-technical people can understand. There are also resources available, like courses and books, that can help you hone your advocacy skills. Don't be afraid to ask for feedback and learn from experienced advocates.