Affordances of Automated Testing Tools and their Effects on Software Testing Professionals

Authors

Ishmael Chikoo, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Irwin Brown, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Elizabeth Chikoo, University of Cape Town, South Africa

Published in

IST-Africa 2026 Conference Proceedings

ISSN: 2576-8581

ISBN: 978-1-905824-76-2

DOI: https://doi.org/10.67725/IST-Africa.2026.NCZU1363

Publisher

IST-Africa Institute and IIMC International Information Management Corporation Ltd

Published in Ireland

Abstract

The need to test complex software solutions has given rise to automated testing. Despite the positive benefits associated with automated testing, the adoption of automated testing tools is not at the expected level and there are misalignments between what is expected and the realised outcomes. This paper seeks to identify affordances offered by automated software testing tools and the effect of actualising affordances on the software testing profession. We undertook an interpretivist study in South Africa to investigate this phenomenon. A total of 9 interviews were conducted with Software Testing professionals and data was analysed thematically. Three main affordances were identified, namely (i) Regression Test Management, (ii) Test Scripting and Execution and (iii) Test Validation and Reporting. Actualising these affordances resulted in the instrumental outcomes of (i) Improved cost-effectiveness, (ii) Improved quality assurance, (iii) Improved software products, and the humanistic outcomes of (iv) Career advancement and (v) Professional reputation.

Keywords

Affordances, Automated Testing Tools, Software Testing Professionals

Cite this paper

I. Chikoo, I. Brown and E. Chikoo (2026) "Affordances of Automated Testing Tools and their Effects on Software Testing Professionals", IST-Africa 2026 Conference Proceedings, Miriam Cunningham and Paul Cunningham (Eds), IST-Africa Institute and IIMC, 2026, ISSN: 2576-8581, ISBN: 978-1-905824-76-2, https://doi.org/10.67725/IST-Africa.2026.NCZU1363

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