Modern QA2026What to Automate and What to Keep Manual
Log inJoin

Library › Book 22 › What to Automate and What to Keep Manual

What to Automate and What to Keep Manual

AIAPISQLPlaywrightSecurityPerformanceMobileAccessibilityCI/CDGitLinuxAgileStrategyCareer
10.1🔒Automation Is a Tool, Not a GoalTest automation is not a goal. It is a tool. The goal is fast, reliable feedback about software quality. Automation serves that goal when…73 words
10.2🔒The Decision FrameworkFor each test scenario, evaluate it against four criteria:139 words
10.3🔒High-Priority Automation Candidates130 words
10.4🔒What to Keep ManualPRO TIP: The decision to automate is not permanent. A feature that is in active flux today (keep manual) may stabilize in two sprints…181 words
10.5🔒The Gray Zone: Borderline CasesSome tests fall between clear automation and clear manual. Common gray zone scenarios:131 words
10.6🔒Q&ASelf-Assessment Quiz: Chapter 101. Name the four criteria for the automate/manual decision. 2. Why should every P1/P2 bug get an automated regression test? 3. Why is…51 words
10.7🔒Key Takeaways- Automation is a tool for fast feedback, not a goal unto itself - Four criteria determine automation priority: repetition, stability…55 words
10.8🔒Hands-On ExercisesExercise 10.1 (Beginner): List your top 20 test scenarios by business risk. Score each on the four criteria. How many are clear automation…89 words
10.9🔒Q&AResume phrasing- Developed a 4-criteria automation decision framework (repetition, stability, determinism, risk) that prioritized 60 automation candidates…77 words
10.10🔒Q&ACover letter framingI treat automation as a tool for fast feedback, not a goal unto itself. My decision framework evaluates every test scenario on four…70 words
10.11🔒Q&AInterview framing"I approach the automate-or-manual decision with a structured framework. I evaluate each test on repetition (how often it runs), stability…87 words
10.12🔒Q&AWhat not to say- "We should automate everything" -- indiscriminate automation creates maintenance burden that exceeds the value. - "Manual testing is…93 words
10.13🔒Q&AQuestion 1Prompt: Your team has a backlog of 150 test scenarios to potentially automate. You can automate about 10 per sprint. How do you prioritize?…173 words
10.14🔒Q&AQuestion 2Prompt: A developer asks why exploratory testing should remain manual when we have AI-powered test generation tools. What is your response?…166 words
10.15🔒Q&AQuestion 3Prompt: You have a feature that changes every sprint. It is also the highest-risk feature in the product. How do you handle the…188 words