Test management tools are required in order to form the procedures for software testing assignments- be it automated or manual. As the name suggests, Test management tools help in the management of automated and manual tests. However, a Test management tool is nothing but an automation software that has defined modules for the management of the requirements and specifications. It also creates the Requirement Test Metrics for covering the functional requirements of the system that has to be tested. Various IT companies and testing companies across the globe are incorporating such tools to simplify how the testing jobs are conducted.

With the help of a test management tool, tests can be defined and saved in the database. Test plan can be formed on the basis of the requirements and specifications. Priorities of the tests can also be defined. If a test is having other test cases dependant on it and it fails then there is no need to perform the dependent test cases till the time the error is resolved. All this can be easily managed by a test management tool.

Test case management tools allow you to execute test cases using an automated software or manually. A test management tool helps in managing all testing related processes at one place. Right from building the test case environment to running automated test cases and filing defects, everything can be managed with the help of a test management tool. The tool simplifies the testing process. It helps in saving time and effort and tester can go for more in depth testing. In order to use a test management tool no coding knowledge is required. Such a tool can be of great help in testing large and complicated applications. Some of the well known test management tools are: Enterprise testing, HP Quality Center, IBM, Rational Quality Manager, QA Complete, QADirectory, QMetry etc.

Defect Management is a very important aspect of software testing. It has many phases, first a defect is identified and then it is reported to the developers to confirm that it is an error. After the confirmation the defect is categorized and its severity is defined. This is known as Prioritization. After prioritization the bug is assigned to the developer to fix it. Generally the bug is given to the developer who has written the code in which the defect was found. Once the bug has been resolved, it is sent back to the tester for testing. The tester verifies the code and if all is well the defect is marked as closed. This is known as Closure of the defect. All these details are recorded so that at the end of the project the performance of the developing team can be analyzed.

There are many different kinds of Defect Management tools available but a company should select the one which is in line with the requirement or is the best fit for its requirements. There are many factors that need to be considered for selecting the right tool such as the budget, features of the tool, the platforms or the operating system on which it would work etc. the tool must be able to provide a repository for defect tracking. It should be able to detect the defect status, i.e. whether a defect has been resolved or not and it should be able to map status of the defect with the management process. The tool should be able to provide efficient reporting on the severity of the defects and should be able to tell how many defects are open and how many have been closed.

Knowledge of test management and defect management tools is not mandatory but is considered as a plus point by software recruitment agencies in Ireland as mostly testing jobs related to software testing in Ireland require tester with such skills.