Regression Testing in Remote and Hybrid Software Teams: An Exploratory Study of Processes, Tools, and Practices

2026-03-08

AI Summary

This study addresses the challenges of regression testing in remote and hybrid work environments, where communication, coordination, and quality assurance are increasingly complex. Through qualitative interviews with 20 software practitioners, complemented by process analysis, tool integration assessment, and coding of collaborative practices, the research systematically investigates the sociotechnical evolution of regression testing in distributed settings. Findings indicate that while core testing phases remain largely stable, teams increasingly rely on documentation, automation, and integrated toolchains to sustain effectiveness. Standardized reporting formats, shared repositories, and traceability mechanisms significantly mitigate collaboration barriers inherent in remote work. The study offers novel insights and practical guidance for ensuring software quality in geographically dispersed development contexts.

Technology Category

• Multiagent Systems: Teamwork
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Distributed CSP/Optimization
• Data Mining & Knowledge Management: Scalability, Parallel & Distributed Systems

Application Category

• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Web evaluation methodologies and metrics
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web performance, measurement, and characterization
• Web Mining and Content Analysis: Robustness and generalizability of Web mining methods

Abstract

Remote and hybrid work have transformed how software development teams organize, communicate, and assure quality. This study investigates how regression testing is performed and experienced under these distributed conditions. Using qualitative interviews with twenty software professionals from diverse organizations, we analyzed how regression testing processes, tools, and coordination practices adapt to remote and hybrid environments. The results show that while the core phases of regression testing remain stable, their execution increasingly depends on documentation, automation, and tool integration to support asynchronous collaboration. Communication and coordination challenges were mitigated through standardized reporting, shared repositories, and traceability mechanisms that replaced informal co-located interactions. These findings reveal regression testing as a socio-technical practice shaped by the interaction between human collaboration and digital infrastructure. Our study contributes to understanding how software quality assurance evolves under remote conditions and offers practical implications for teams and organizations adopting hybrid work models.

Problem

• Regression Testing
• Remote Work
• Hybrid Teams
• Software Quality Assurance
• Distributed Collaboration

Innovation

• regression testing
• remote work
• hybrid teams
• socio-technical practice
• test automation