Watch Driving Efficiency and Speed Through Test Process Maturity

There’s a path to shorter release times your team may not be taking advantage of: maturing your test process. Here’s how.

This webinar brings together Experimentus, the global leader in TMMi (Test Maturity Model integration) assessments, and Parasoft, a pioneer in intelligent test automation, to explore how test process maturity and modern tooling intersect.

See how teams use TMMi to establish best practices while using service virtualization to eliminate bottlenecks, enable earlier testing, and achieve measurable ROI.

Watch now for practical guidance drawn from decades of TMMi experience and see how to transform ad hoc testing into a strategic driver of speed and stability.

Key Takeaways

Understand TMMi: Learn what the Test Maturity Model Integration is all about and why it matters for improving your testing.
Real-World Benefits: See how higher quality, faster delivery, and more efficient teams are achievable.
Getting Started: Get practical advice on taking the first steps in your TMMi journey.
Tooling and AI: Discover how modern tools, including AI, can support your maturity goals.

What Is TMMi?

TMMi, which stands for Test Maturity Model Integration, is a framework designed to help organizations get better at testing. It was created back in 2010 and has five levels of maturity. Think of it as a roadmap to improve your testing from being a bit all over the place to a well-oiled machine focused on continuous improvement.

Level 1 (Initial): Testing is usually informal and reactive. Things happen as they come up.
Level 2 (Managed): More structure is introduced, with planning and strategy becoming important.
Level 3 (Defined): Processes become more standardized and documented. Everyone tends to follow the same practices.
Level 4 (Measured): Measurement becomes key. You can start predicting how your testing will go based on data.
Level 5 (Optimized): This is where continuous improvement and data-driven refinement really kick in. You’re always looking for ways to make things better.

This structured approach aligns well with how many companies want to grow their testing strategies organically, aiming for that sweet spot of continuous improvement and real business value.

Why Choose TMMi?

While experienced testers can assess processes, using a standard model like TMMi brings consistency and official recognition. Unlike proprietary models, TMMi is publicly available and free to use. It’s not tied to any specific tool vendor, making it an independent guide focused purely on helping teams improve efficiency and effectiveness. It’s an approachable way to start making testing processes better.

The Benefits of TMMi

Clients who adopt the TMMi framework often see clear, measurable improvements in a few key areas: cost, quality, and speed.

Cost Savings: Testing activities become more efficient due to consistency and repeatability, saving money.
Higher Quality: Better product quality means fewer defects, both before and after a new product or service is released. This leads to happier customers.
Faster Delivery: Consistency in processes, methods, and tools allows teams to work more quickly.
Talent Retention: Organizations with structured, efficient testing processes tend to attract and keep good testers, as employees feel they are learning best practices and have clear career paths.

Tackling Test Environment Bottlenecks

One big hurdle in getting software out faster is dealing with test environment issues. These environments are crucial for testing, and problems here can really slow things down. TMMi recognizes this, with test environments being a key part of Level 2. How these environments are specified, designed, implemented, and managed, along with the use of the right tools, is super important.

When test environments are unstable or hard to access, it messes with test automation. This is where tools like Parasoft Virtualize come in handy. They help overcome challenges with environment availability and contention, making automation more reliable.

TMMi in Agile and Safe Environments

Does TMMi work with agile and SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework) approaches? Absolutely. While the model was created when sequential development was more common, it’s flexible enough for any software development lifecycle. TMMi doesn’t dictate how you meet its practices, just that you do. This means practices like traceability can be implemented differently depending on whether you’re in an agile or sequential setting. For example, in agile, traceability might focus on features and user stories, while in a sequential model, it might be between requirements documents and tests.

The TMMi Foundation even has a document specifically on using TMMi in agile environments. Many current certifications happen in agile settings, showing how well the model adapts. Things like using ‘Definition of Ready’ and ‘Definition of Done’ to set testing criteria, and defining testing roles within teams, fit right in.

In agile, where faster, parallel testing is common, service virtualization becomes even more valuable. It helps ensure test assets are available when needed, reducing delays caused by environment unavailability or contention. This supports continuous testing without waiting for dependent systems.

ISTQB and TMMi: A Complementary Relationship

ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board) focuses on certifying individual testers and their skills, from foundation to advanced levels. TMMi, on the other hand, is geared towards the organizational or test team level. While different, they complement each other. Both use similar language, and TMMi often refers to the ISTQB glossary. While ISTQB certification isn’t required for TMMi assessments, having it can make it easier for individuals to understand and apply TMMi concepts.

Getting Started with TMMi

So, how do you begin your TMMi journey?

Download the Model: Visit tmmi.org and download the model. It’s a detailed guide.
Start Small: Don’t feel you need to tackle everything at once. Look at the process areas and pick the ones that will give you the most immediate value, especially foundational ones if you’re at a low maturity level.
Get Certified (Individually): Consider getting a TMMi Professional certification. This training and exam will help you understand the model better and perform self-assessments.
Use Free Resources: Experimentus offers a free online TMMi survey that can give you a high-level overview of your current maturity, helping you identify areas for improvement.
Seek Expert Help: If you’re serious about process improvement and potentially certification, work with a TMMi service provider. They are listed on the TMMi website and can offer the best support to ensure you get the most out of TMMi.

The Role of Tools and AI

TMMi itself is tool-agnostic; it doesn’t recommend specific tools. However, it’s hard to imagine achieving certain practices, like non-functional testing (performance, security) or managing test environments at Level 2, without using appropriate tools. The key is that the tools used should help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the process.

AI-driven tools are also reshaping testing. AI can be used to improve many aspects of the test process. While it’s important to use AI to augment human judgment, especially in areas like test policy and strategy, AI really shines in data-heavy areas like defect analysis, reporting, estimation, and managing test environments. The ease of use offered by AI can make adopting and scaling testing practices including service virtualization, more approachable, particularly for less technical teams.

Working with tool vendors who understand TMMi, like Parasoft, can be very beneficial. Consultants can guide organizations on implementing TMMi, while tool vendors can provide the delivery capabilities and solutions that support those improvements. This partnership brings together expertise in TMMi implementation and decades of experience in test automation, helping teams build sustainable and stable automation practices that remove roadblocks and enable faster releases.