Identifying Gaps in Testing Governance and Capability for a UK Government Department
Historically, the department’s focus had been on infrastructure and technical change, with limited investment in formal application testing processes. After seeing TXP’s testing framework as part of the delivery of a new application development project, the department recognised gaps in its own testing governance and capability. TXP was asked to conduct a full test capability assessment to identify areas for improvement and provide a clear path forward.
The Client
A major UK government department responsible for delivering public services to around 20 million claimants and customers. One of the largest operational departments in the country.
The Challenge
- Lack of formal test management: Testing processes were underdeveloped and inconsistent.
- No clear governance: Testing lacked structure, ownership, and alignment with delivery goals.
- Limited visibility: The department didn’t have a clear view of its current test maturity or how to improve it.
The Solution
TXP carried out a comprehensive review of the department’s testing programme. This included analysis of existing processes, documentation, tools, and metrics. We engaged directly with both testing teams and the wider software delivery community, conducting interviews with 12 key stakeholders including product owners, delivery managers, business analysts, infrastructure engineers, agile leads, architects, and project managers. The goal was to understand how testing was embedded across the lifecycle and where improvements could be made.
The Benefits
- Clarity on current state: A detailed report outlined the department’s current level of test maturity and highlighted key testing areas in need of improvement
- Targeted improvements: A prioritised set of recommendations focused on improving test governance, capability, and delivery.
- Structured roadmap: A timetabled plan to implement improvements in a phased, manageable way.
- Quick wins: Identified low-effort, high-impact changes to deliver immediate value with minimal investment.
- Foundation for growth: The department now has a clear path to scale and mature its testing capability in line with future digital ambitions.