Have you ever considered Quality Assurance (QA) as just a safety net at the end of the development process? In a Scrum environment, QA is much more than that. It’s a strategic partner that adds value from the very beginning.
Why QA is essential in Scrum
At M2Q, we believe QA doesn’t slow things down, it speeds them up. By identifying risks early, preventing rework, and ensuring the right functionalities are built from the start, QA helps teams deliver customer value faster.
For management, this might sound counterintuitive. Why should a QA engineer join sprint planning, daily stand-ups, or backlog refinement if their job is “just testing”? The answer is simple: quality is a shared responsibility. Involving QA early reduces waste, improves collaboration, and accelerates the delivery of valuable products.
The role of QA in each Scrum ceremony
Here’s an overview of the Scrum ceremonies and how QA plays a critical role in each:
Sprint planning
Sprint planning is more than assigning tasks. QA contributes by:
- challenging and clarifying acceptance criteria
- identifying potential risks early
- estimating testing efforts realistically
Without QA, teams risk overcommitting and ending the sprint with incomplete or untested stories.
Daily stand-ups
With QA present, blockers related to test data, environments, or quality issues are surfaced early. This:
- improves transparency
- keeps testing progress aligned with sprint goals
Without QA, risks remain hidden until they cause delays.
Backlog refinement
QA ensures that:
- acceptance criteria are clear and testable
- gaps in requirements are identified early
- testability concerns are addressed before stories enter the sprint
Without QA, the backlog may look ready but hide ambiguities that lead to churn and delays.
Sprint review
QA validates whether stories meet acceptance criteria and assesses the impact of the delivered increment. This:
- builds stakeholder trust
- prevents reviews from showcasing only “happy paths” while real issues go unnoticed
Without QA, critical feedback is missed.
Sprint retrospective
QA shares insights from defects, test coverage, and missed risks. This:
- improves team processes
- connects product quality to team performance
Without QA, retrospectives lack essential input on what works and what doesn’t in delivering value.
From testing to quality strategy
QA in Scrum isn’t about adding checks at the end—it’s about shaping quality from the start. By actively participating in all ceremonies, QA engineers create clarity, reduce risks, and accelerate delivery. For management, involving QA is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Action point: start today
Invite QA into sprint planning, backlog refinement, and stand-ups. You’ll quickly see how quality drives speed and customer value.
Want to implement this approach in your team or organization? RECCE offers tailored advice, training, and support to help you embed QA into your agile processes. Contact us today and discover how QA can strengthen your Scrum team.