Categories
Each entry is priced at CAD $740
AI-Powered Quality Assurance
To assess entries in the “AI-Powered Quality Assurance” category, the judging criteria should focus on how effectively and innovatively AI has been used to drive quality improvements.
Judging Criteria:
- Impact on Quality Standards
- Description: The degree to which the AI solution has raised quality standards within the organization or industry. Judges will look at measurable improvements, such as reduced error rates, enhanced precision, higher compliance rates, and overall product or service quality.
- Innovation and Uniqueness
- Description: The originality and creativity of the AI approach in addressing quality challenges. This criterion assesses whether the solution represents a novel application of AI in quality assurance, control, or improvement.
- Sustainability and Long-Term Value
- Description: The AI solution’s potential for sustained quality improvement and its adaptability over time. This includes the AI’s ability to learn, evolve, and continue providing value in the long term.
- Operational Efficiency and Cost Reduction
- Description: The AI solution’s impact on improving efficiency, reducing operational costs, or minimizing waste, which are essential elements of quality. Judges will evaluate the solution’s role in streamlining workflows and delivering cost savings without compromising quality.
- Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction
- Description: The effect of the AI solution on end-user or customer satisfaction, reflecting quality improvements that impact user experience. Judges will look for solutions that have demonstrably improved customer outcomes or satisfaction.
AI Driven Automation
To assess entries in the “AI Driven Automation” category, the judging criteria should focus on how effectively and innovatively AI has been used to drive quality improvements.
Judging Criteria:
- Impact on Quality Standards
- Description: The degree to which the AI solution has raised quality standards within the organization or industry. Judges will look at measurable improvements, such as reduced error rates, enhanced precision, higher compliance rates, and overall product or service quality.
- Innovation and Uniqueness
- Description: The originality and creativity of the AI approach in addressing quality challenges. This criterion assesses whether the solution represents a novel application of AI in quality assurance, control, or improvement.
- Sustainability and Long-Term Value
- Description: The AI solution’s potential for sustained quality improvement and its adaptability over time. This includes the AI’s ability to learn, evolve, and continue providing value in the long term.
- Operational Efficiency and Cost Reduction
- Description: The AI solution’s impact on improving efficiency, reducing operational costs, or minimizing waste, which are essential elements of quality. Judges will evaluate the solution’s role in streamlining workflows and delivering cost savings without compromising quality.
- Customer and Stakeholder Satisfaction
- Description: The effect of the AI solution on end-user or customer satisfaction, reflecting quality improvements that impact user experience. Judges will look for solutions that have demonstrably improved customer outcomes or satisfaction.
Best Agile Project
Awarded for the best software testing project in an agile environment. Judges will be looking for:
- Discussion of project goals, importance, achievements, and successful results.
- Verification of best practices included as part of the agile project.
- A clear understanding and evaluation of software testing/QA challenges in an agile environment and how these have been overcome.
- Concrete evidence of excellent communication between all stakeholders & commitment to working and learning rapidly and delivering high-quality software frequently.
Diversity and Inclusion Award
Awarded to the company, team, or person that has shown a long-term commitment to Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) within their culture. Judges will be looking for:
- They must be able to highlight their D&I strategy and how it has had a positive impact on their business.
- Judges will be looking at aspects such as leadership’s commitment to diversity (e.g. appointing a Chief Diversity / Equality Officer).
- Representation of diversity at all levels of the organisation, equal access to opportunity, fair treatment practices, diversity education and training, etc.
Best Advancing Software Testing Practice
Awarded to the outstanding person, team, or initiative that has made a positive contribution to the software testing profession. This is in recognition of those that go above and beyond to make the testing industry or practice better. It means breaking down barriers, thinking beyond the employers or clients, and using skills and knowledge for the betterment of the profession. Judges will be looking for:
- Evidence that individuals or teams have engaged beyond the boundaries of their team, organisation, or sector, to collaborate, influence, or enhance how testing is performed elsewhere.
- Evidence that nominees have shared knowledge, pooled resources, or worked together e.g. held conferences (virtual or physical), created websites, podcasts, or created and contributed to communities.
- Evidence that nominees have contributed to thought leadership, enhancing the way software testing is conducted.
- Evidence that nominees have performed outreach to early career testers, to schools or education, encouraging new people to the profession.
Best Test Automation Project – Functional
The award for the Best Use Of Automation in a Functional software testing project. Judges will be looking for:
- Verification of functional requirements has been met or exceeded.
- Utilisation of a well-developed test suite of testing scripts.
- Demonstrate the impact of functional testing and the deployment into production.
- Detailed discussion of project goals, importance, achievements, resources, and successful results.
- Evidence and evaluation of overcoming project challenges/obstacles.
Best Test Automation Project – Non-Functional
The award for the Best Use Of Automation in a Non-Functional software testing project. Judges will be looking for:
- Detailed discussion of non-functional requirements has been met or exceeded.
- Validation of the non-functional tests were representation of real-world conditions.
- Demonstrate the impact of non-functional testing and the deployment into production.
- Verification of project goals, importance, achievements, resources and successful results.
- Evidence and evaluation of overcoming project challenges/obstacles.
Best Use of Technology in a Project
Awarded for outstanding application of technology in a testing project. Judges will be looking for:
- Detailed discussion of project goals, importance, achievements, and successful results.
- Demonstration of cutting-edge and fit-for-purpose technology was correctly and effectively used.
- Illustration of training and upskilling team & working closely with stakeholders to deliver the project on time and within budget.
- Evidence and evaluation of overcoming project challenges/obstacles.
Testing Newcomer of the Year
This is awarded to a newcomer from all walks of life that has made an impact in the software testing and QA industry. Judges will be looking for:
- Evidence of outstanding commitment and development in their new testing career.
- Proof of a commitment to the greater testing community and dedication to championing testing practices.
- Testament of outstanding communication skills, with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Examples of procedures/technologies put in place to ensure high quality results.
- Evidence of self-improvement and commitment to high standards.
Testing Champion of the Year
Awarded to the testing champion for the most outstanding performance over the last 12 months. Judges will be looking for:
- Demonstrate what they did to build, support, nurture, develop and motivate a team to become successful.
- Evidences that are both quantitative (measurable metrics or technical elements that show statically what has been achieved) and qualitative (feedback from the team, project stakeholders, senior’s organisation leaders or customer/users).
- Examples of procedures put in place to ensure high quality results.
- Evidence and evaluation of self-improvement and commitment to high standards.
Testing Team of the Year
Awarded to the most outstanding overall testing team of the year. Judges will be looking for:
- Discussion of targets achieved through effective teamwork.
- Highlight the ability to work with a dev/business/product owner around potentially changing requirements.
- Demonstration of strong team ethos and Excellent people management and communication skills.
- Evidence of achieving project aims and targets through effective leadership.
- Evidence and Evaluation of problem-solving and self-improvement within the team.
Testing Leader of the Year
Awarded to the most outstanding business leader that manages a team. The performance considered would be of the last 12 months. Judges will be looking for:
- Demonstrate what they did to build, support, nurture, develop and motivate a team to become successful.
- Judges will look for characteristics like self-awareness, decisiveness, fairness, enthusiasm, integrity, knowledge, creativity and imagination as well as thought leadership and endurance.
- Examples of procedures put in place to ensure high quality results.
- Evidence and evaluation of self-improvement and commitment to high standards.
In Retail
Awarded to the most outstanding testing project in the retail sector. Judges will be looking for:
- Detailed discussion of project goals, importance, achievements, resources and successful results.
- Evidence of great vision, forward-thinking & working closely with stakeholders to deliver the project on time and within budget.
- Demonstration of a successful software testing project utilising a best practice method/technique.
- Evidence and evaluation of overcoming project challenges/obstacles.
In Electronic Communication
Awarded to the most outstanding testing project in the communication sector. Judges will be looking for:
- Detailed discussion of project goals, importance, achievements, resources and successful results.
- Evidence of great vision, forward-thinking & working closely with stakeholders to deliver the project on time and within budget.
- Demonstration of a successful software testing project utilising a best practice method/technique.
- Evidence and evaluation of overcoming project challenges/obstacles.
In Public Sector/Services (incl. charities & NGOs)
Awarded to the most outstanding testing project in the public sector. Judges will be looking for:
- Detailed discussion of project goals, importance, achievements, resources, and successful results.
- Positive impact to the public sector.
- Evidence of vision, forward-thinking & working closely with stakeholders to deliver the transformation on time and within budget.
- Key performance indicators used to measure the programme’s success.
- Evidence and evaluation of overcoming project challenges/obstacles.
- Evidence of commitment to promoting diversity and creating an inclusive culture in the project team.
In Finance
Awarded to the most outstanding testing project in the finance sector.
Judges will be looking for:
- Detailed discussion of project goals, importance, achievements, resources and successful results.
- Evidence of great vision, forward-thinking & working closely with stakeholders to deliver the project on time and within budget.
- Demonstration of a successful software testing project utilising a best practice method/technique.
- Evidence and evaluation of overcoming project challenges/obstacles.
Most Innovative Project
Awarded to the project that has significantly advanced the methods and practices of software testing and QA. Judges will be looking for:
- A project that has significantly advanced the methods and practices of software testing and QA Implementation.
- Clear demonstration of the innovative nature of the project – what was the driver for innovation and how was it achieved?
- An attempt to push boundaries within the software testing industry.
- Discussion of project goals, importance, achievements, resources and successful results.
- Evidence and evaluation of overcoming project challenges/obstacles.
Leading Supplier of Products and Services
Entries will demonstrate evidence of the following: Judges will be looking for:
- How have the vendors understood the brief? This needs to be more than just the aims of a specific short term project. Do the vendors understand the organisation history and values? How have they contributed to the mission of the organisation?
- Value for money. How have the vendors ensured that the clients/customers have obtained the best value for money? This should show an understanding of costs verses benefits, and how the vendor is ensuring that they have delivered what other vendors could not do.
- This is not about scale. Impact is more important. Achieving big results with small resources is more impressive than average results with large resources. If it is a large project and team, then show the judges what is significantly above expectations. Articulate the benefits and the odds against achieving this with the resources you had.
- Ongoing value. What have the vendors done to promote an ongoing benefit to the client, while minimising the cost? How to clients obtain support and how are ongoing relationships strengthened?
