Test preparation and execution requires collaboration with development and functional steams and is not a “one man job” Testers are also required over and above functional consultants as qualitative positive and negative testing requires a tester mind-set.

Testing and the test evidence is methodology agnostic. Agile does not mean absence of testing but it does mean testing as we go instead of testing only when the build is done.

Testing or Quality Assurance protects the Production environment, thus eliminating reputational risk because or loss of revenue due to the disruption of day-to-day business transactions.

Automation is only value adding if you have repeatable tests that need to run often, once off tests should be executed manually and there would be no return on investment if you target 100% automation.

There has to be clear and measurable value for an organisation to justify implementing test automation.

Unit, System and Integration tests are required upfront before UAT can be executed.

The focus should be on ensuring a qualitative solution, therefore comprehensive testing from different experts (including testers) is required.