The gap between agile delivery and modern testing
Agile has transformed how software is built — shorter cycles, faster feedback, and continuous improvement. Yet many organisations find that, even after adopting agile, the results they expected haven’t materialised.
- Regression testing grows with every sprint.
- Automation exists, but it’s brittle or unreliable.
- Testing is squeezed into the final days before release.
- Confidence is low and rework is high.
The reason? Testing hasn’t evolved to match agile delivery.
Many teams have changed how they plan, but not how they assure quality. Testing is still treated as a separate phase, automation is fragmented, and visibility is limited.
At TSG, we help teams close this gap — embedding testing practices that support agile delivery instead of slowing it down.
When Agile Is Fast — But Testing Is Stuck
Even high-performing delivery teams struggle when testing remains an afterthought. Agile rituals are in place, but testing is still bolted on rather than built in.
- Quality becomes reactive.
- Automation breaks as systems evolve.
- Releases slow down, even inside a fast process.
TSG works with clients to reframe testing as an integral part of delivery — not a bottleneck at the end of it.
“Quality gets bolted on, not built in — and agile slows down as a result.”
Case Study: From Month-End Mayhem to Biweekly Confidence
A UK-based fintech platform had adopted two-week sprints, but testing was still lagging behind development.
Their challenge
- Release cycles stretched to 4–6 weeks.
- Automation scripts needed days of rework after each release.
- Manual regression delayed new stories.
- Product leaders lacked visibility into testing progress and risk.
Our solution
- Introduced test analysis during backlog refinement, ensuring acceptance criteria were testable from the start.
- Built a modular, API-first automation framework to enable in-sprint testing.
- Redesigned their JIRA workflow for test visibility across story states.
- Implemented incremental regression within CI/CD pipelines.
The outcome
- Release cycles reduced from five weeks to two.
- Automation stability improved by 60%.
- Test coverage and risk became visible across the delivery team.
“The biggest change wasn’t technical — it was cultural. Testing became part of delivery, not a hurdle at the end.”
Case Study: Building Quality Across Product Squads
A financial services organisation had moved to a product-squad model, but each team took a different approach to testing.
Their challenge
- Inconsistent regression coverage.
- Developers automating tests independently, with no shared framework.
- Lack of visibility for delivery managers.
- Late-stage release blockers.
Our solution
- Created a shared automation framework with reusable libraries and API-first coverage.
- Embedded test status and readiness fields within JIRA.
- Introduced a lightweight test readiness checklist for every story.
- Coached teams on risk-based testing and prioritisation.
The outcome
- Release blockers dropped by 40%.
- Automation became a trusted part of delivery.
- Testing ownership was shared across squads.
Why Testing Fails in Agile Environments
Many teams face the same underlying issues:
- Testing remains a phase, not a process.
Stories are developed before test analysis begins, leaving quality to the end. - Automation is treated as a side project.
Scripts are created outside the sprint, disconnected from delivery cycles. - Regression testing is all-or-nothing.
Teams either run everything or nothing, creating unnecessary risk or delay. - Testing is invisible in workflow tools.
Without visibility, ownership and accountability for quality disappear.
“Agile doesn’t fail because of process — it fails when testing doesn’t keep up.”
How TSG Supports Agile Teams
TSG helps organisations evolve their testing to match modern agile delivery. Our services focus on capability, visibility, and continuous improvement — not tools or volume.
Agile Testing Health Check
A structured assessment of testing maturity, workflow, and automation coverage to identify bottlenecks and risk.
Automation Strategy & Framework Delivery
Design and implementation of modular, API-first automation frameworks that integrate with CI/CD pipelines.
Workflow & Visibility Design
Optimised workflows in JIRA, Azure DevOps, or Linear to make testing activities, risk, and coverage transparent.
Regression Strategy Design
Incremental, risk-based regression packs that run daily — reducing bottlenecks and improving release confidence.
Team Enablement & Coaching
Coaching and embedded support to help developers and testers take shared ownership of quality.
Conclusion: Agile Isn’t Broken — Testing Needs to Catch Up
When agile delivery underperforms, it’s rarely the process at fault. It’s the testing that hasn’t evolved with it.
Testing should be an enabler of confident, continuous delivery — not a constraint.
At TSG, we work with organisations across fintech, retail, and product delivery to modernise testing so agile can deliver the results it promised.
Get in touch to discuss how we can help your teams build quality in, not bolt it on.