How to build an Issue Tracking Report |
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Issue tracking software can be extremely useful in QA testing and bug tracking, but only if it's used correctly. Generating issue reports is a major component of issue tracking software, and one of the bigger reasons that managers choose to implement a tool, so having the correct information in these reports is essential.
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The first report of an issue lifecycle is the most critical one. It is this first report that everything else in the issue's history is built upon. For this reason, everyone involved in development and QA should understand the three main components of an initial issue report.
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First: how to get to, or where to find, the issue. This piece should explain to anyone reading the report, how to see the bug, and it should be extremely detailed. A team member who may be unfamiliar with the issue should be able to experience the bug by reading and following these directions. How are you going to fix an issue if you can't find it every time?
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Second: what should have happened if the bug wasn't present. This too should be detailed; it's obviously important to explain the desired action, so you and your team knows when the issue has been successfully resolved.
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Third: what occurred because this issue was present. This piece should explain what effect the bug had and how it changed the program. This, again, should be detailed. If the issue tracking team knows exactly what the issue is doing, or what chain reactions it's causing, they can figure out the best way to fix it.
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Writing a detailed and informative issue report is essential to optimizing your issue tracking software. Make sure that all three essential elements are included in each report, and you can ensure that you're playing an effective role in handling bugs in your company's software system.
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