From Conflict to Collaboration – The Story of Devs and Testers in Scrum

1. Introduction: When Developers and Testers Collide in Scrum Teams

If you’ve ever worked in a Scrum team, you’ve likely witnessed (or experienced) the “silent wars” between Testers and Developers. One side claims, “My code runs fine,” while the other retorts, “A failed test is a failed test, don’t blame the environment!”

In reality, Devs and Testers are not opposing forces. They are two sides of the same coin, both aiming for the same goal: creating a quality product. However, to achieve this, effective communication is vital.

A few thoughts from Ms Yen Thai (QA Engineer) inspired by real Scrum team moments.

2. Why are Devs and Testers often “out of sync” in Scrum?

Different Perspectives

• Developer: Focuses on making the feature work as required.
• Tester: Focuses on finding what makes it not work.

These two objectives can cause them to clash, especially when a reported bug forces a developer to perform a “rollback” or a “hotfix.”

Pressure from Deadlines and Sprints

Scrum operates on a fast-paced sprint rhythm. When time is tight, testers might be pushed into “rushed testing” while developers are still fixing bugs.

The result: Testers feel that developers are “irresponsible,” while developers find testers “difficult.”

Lack of Communication from the Start of the Sprint

Many teams only involve testers during the testing phase, excluding them from planning or refinement. This prevents testers from fully understanding the developer’s logic, leading to misunderstandings or inadequate test cases.

3. Scrum Collaboration: 4 Scenarios for Success

Scenario 1: “I test by the spec, you code by ‘inspiration'”

• Description: A Tester finds a bug because the developer misunderstood the requirement, while the developer claims the “spec was vague.”
• Solution:
  • Both should participate in refinement meetings to clarify requirements from the very beginning.
  • Testers can proactively ask about business flows and edge cases while the developer is analyzing the task.
  • Developers should note their assumptions in the task or ticket to avoid misunderstandings.

Scenario 2: “I can’t reproduce your bug”

• Description: A Tester reports a bug, but the developer cannot reproduce it.
• Solution:
  • The Tester should provide complete information: steps to reproduce, test data, environment details, screenshots/videos, or work with the developer to reproduce the issue on the spot and help find the root cause.
  • The Developer can use debug logs, console output, or links to a specific version to verify.
  • If the bug is environment-related, collaborate with the DevOps team to identify the root cause.

Scenario 3: “I already tested it, but the dev still pushed a bug to production”

• Description: The Tester feels frustrated when old bugs reappear (regression) or when the QA step is skipped due to a rushed release.
• Solution:
  • Apply a clear Definition of Done (DoD) in the sprint: a task is only closed after it passes testing.
  • Use a CI/CD pipeline with basic test automation to prevent regression.
  • Both devs and testers should participate in a post-release review to learn from the experience together, without placing blame.

Scenario 4: “The Dev says: ‘With such thorough testing, when will the sprint ever finish?'”

• Description: The developer feels that the tester is slowing down progress.
• Solution:
  • Testers should prioritize testing based on risk (risk-based testing); not all cases require deep manual testing.
  • Developers can help by writing better unit tests or creating mock data to reduce the tester’s workload.
  • The Scrum Master should help balance the workload, ensuring there is adequate time for testing.

4. Building Effective Collaboration Between Testers & Devs in a Scrum Team

Communicate Early – Communicate Often

Don’t wait for a bug to start talking. Testers and devs should:

• Discuss progress and risks during the daily meeting.
• Discuss test cases during refinement to avoid misinterpreting logic.

Share a Common Goal

Both should understand that:

“A Tester isn’t someone who finds the Dev’s mistakes. A Tester is someone who helps the Dev find mistakes sooner.”

Learn From Each Other’s Skills

• Testers should learn more about how code works, APIs, and unit tests to understand root causes faster.
• Developers should learn more about the testing mindset and exploratory testing to write more robust code.

Create a Culture of Positive Feedback

When reporting a bug or commenting on code, use objective language:

• “You coded this wrong!”
• “I noticed that when I input data X, the system doesn’t handle it according to the spec. Could you please take a look?”

5. Development Paths for Testers and Developers in a Scrum Team

For Testers:

• Develop automation skills to reduce the pressure of manual testing.
• Understand CI/CD, API testing, and performance testing to better support developers.
• Sharpen communication skills – a soft skill that is just as important as technical ability.

For Developers:

• Write clean code and comprehensive unit tests to reduce downstream bugs.
• Learn to review test cases with testers to better understand requirements.
• Be open to feedback – a bug is not a “criticism,” but an opportunity for improvement.

Conclusion

In an effective Scrum team, Devs and Testers are not adversaries; they are partners working toward quality. Open communication, a collaborative spirit, and mutual learning are the keys that help the entire team succeed.

Because, at the end of the day, software quality is not the sole responsibility of one person—it is the achievement of the entire team.

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