Grove Consultants

Automation Maturity: Self-Assessment Test

Answer the following questions about test automation in your company or group if you have been
using a testing tool for at least one month.
Write the letter (a, b or c) which indicates your answer in the letter column. Then look at the
scoring sheet below to fill in the scores. Calculate the total and determine your level of maturity.

No. Question Your choice

1. Our objectives for test automation: letter score
a) are clearly stated, measurable and understood
b) are clearly stated and understood
c) are under discussion
2. We are interested in
a) every tool there is
b) only one type of tool, e.g. capture replay / test execution
c) any type of tool that will help meet our objectives
3. Our automation strategy
a) is very ambitious – we want dramatic savings in the next
few months
b) takes us in defined and measurable stages over the next
year or two
c) we don’t have one, or it is out of date
4. How much time do you spend on research into test automation (e.g.
reading, experimenting, researching, etc.)
a) less than 2 hours per week
b) more than 5 hours per week
c) 2 to 5 hours per week
5. Automation will affect our testers by
a) enabling staff reductions in testing
b) enabling them to do more test design
c) enabling them to gain a new skill in using the tools directly
6. The most important thing for our current testing and automation is
a) meeting release deadlines
b) running as many tests as possible
c) effectiveness and efficiency of the tests
7. The amount of time planned to spend on test automation is
a) estimated, scheduled and budgeted
b) no additional time or resource is available for automation
c) whatever is needed to automate all tests
8. What progress have you made in test automation in the past 6 months?
a) we have automated more tests, continuing with our original
plans and objectives
b) we haven’t made much progress, or are doing less
c) we have considered alternatives and implemented
improvements to our current approach
9. Test automation in my company is done for
a) my project
b) the whole organisation – enterprise-wide (if applicable)
c) more than one project
10. What standards do you have in place for test automation?
a) naming conventions, file structures, interfaces, configuration
management, ways of using the tool(s)
b) naming conventions, file structures, interfaces, configuration
management, ways of using the tool(s), enforced
c) none – everyone will do something sensible
Total score

©Grove Consultants, 2004 www.grove.co.uk Page 1 of 2

Grove Consultants

Automation Maturity
Self-Assessment Scoring

Give yourself points according to the following table

Question a) b) c)
1 3 2 1
2 2 1 3
3 2 3 1
4 1 2 3
5 1 3 2
6 1 2 3
7 3 1 2
8 2 1 3
9 1 3 2
10 2 3 1

Automation Maturity
Determine your level of maturity

You are at stage

You do not have any test automation tools yet Pre-planning
(embryo)
You have purchased your first test automation Purchase
tool in the past month (baby)
Your score is between 10 and 15 First steps
(toddler)
Your score is between 16 and 20 Short-termism
(child)
Your score is between 21 and 25 Transition
(adolescent)
Your score is between 26 and 30 Mature regime
(adult)

Quiz developed by Dorothy Graham and Lloyd Roden, with assistance from Julie Gardiner

©Grove Consultants, 2004 www.grove.co.uk Page 2 of 2