Certified Associate in Software Testing (CAST) Practice Test

What is the role of audits in software quality?

1. To find defects after the product release

2. To ensure process compliance with standards

3. To increase documentation efforts

4. To enhance team skills

The correct answer is: To ensure process compliance with standards

The role of audits in software quality is primarily to ensure process compliance with established standards. Audits are systematic evaluations conducted to verify that processes, practices, and technologies meet specified criteria and adhere to regulatory requirements. This compliance checking helps organizations maintain a consistent quality level in their software development practices. By assessing whether the processes being followed align with predefined standards, audits help identify areas for improvement and risks that may affect software quality. This proactive approach can lead to the enhancement of overall productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of software development and testing processes. Audits are vital in maintaining accountability and quality assurance within the software development lifecycle, thereby fostering an environment of continuous improvement. While the other options touch on important aspects of software development, they do not capture the fundamental purpose of audits as accurately as the role of ensuring process compliance with standards. For instance, finding defects after release focuses on post-development activities rather than compliance checks. Increasing documentation efforts may be a byproduct of audits but is not their primary function, and enhancing team skills is an important aspect of team development unrelated to the audit journey specifically.