What is the primary focus of quality assurance?

The primary focus of quality assurance is to provide confidence that quality requirements will be fulfilled. Quality assurance involves systematic processes that are designed to ensure that the final product meets the established standards and requirements of quality. It is proactive, seeking to prevent defects and ensure that quality control mechanisms are in place throughout the software development lifecycle. This focus on prevention and assurance differentiates it from other activities like fixing defects, which is more of a reactive approach, addressing issues after they have been identified.

Quality assurance encompasses activities such as process definition and auditing, as well as training team members to ensure that everyone understands and adheres to quality practices. In an Agile context, quality assurance is critical because it supports the iterative nature of development and encourages ongoing improvement of processes, tools, and techniques across teams, thereby fostering a quality-first mindset.

The emphasis on fulfilling quality requirements aligns with the objective of quality assurance to build a consistent framework that not only meets customer expectations but also enhances the reliability and efficiency of the entire development process.