How Can Test Maturity Models Evolve for Agile Environments: Agile-TMMI (A-TMMI) Framework Proposal

This study presents the successful integration of agile practices with all levels of the TMMi framework, offering significant contributions to software testing research. Unlike previous studies focused primarily on Level 2, this research examined and aligned all sub-areas of TMMi Levels 2 through 5 with agile methodologies over a three-year implementation in an embedded systems company, achieving integration rates above 90% using risk-based testing. The implementation led to notable improvements, including a 50% reduction in effort and enhanced defect quality metrics. Furthermore, a novel four-level model, A-TMMi, was proposed, incorporating test measurements and quality assessments within each level, with modifications such as relocating non-functional testing to Level 2 and integrating advanced peer reviews into Level 3. The findings demonstrate that agile-TMMi integration can significantly improve testing efficiency and software quality while reducing resource consumption. Future research should validate the A-TMMi model across different organizational scales and explore Level 5, particularly for defect prevention using artificial intelligence approaches.