Planning Process

Planning Process Best Practices By Gabriel Rodriguez

Agenda • What is a Test Plan? • Components of a Test Plan • Developing a Test Plan • Q&A • Reference

What is a Test Plan?

What is a Test Plan? Test Planning • The plan should be a contract between the customer/user(s) and the testers defining what will be tested. • The project team must design and plan a testing strategy that utilizes a balance of testing techniques. • Without a documented test plan, the test itself cannot be verified, coverage cannot be analyzed, and the test is not repeatable. • A document that defines the overall testing objectives and approach is called a test plan.

What is a Test Plan? Test Planning • A document that defines what is selected to test, and describes the expected results is called a test design. • Test plan and designs often combines in the same document. • Test planning should begin at the same time requirements definition starts.

What is a Test Plan? Why Plan Tests? • Documented tests are repeatable, controllable, and insure adequate test coverage when executed. • Repeatable • Once the necessary tests are documented, anyone on the test team should be able to execute the tests. • Controllable • Do I know what the expected results are? • Coverage • The test Plan is designed to insure that adequate test coverage is built into the test.

Components of a Test Plan

Components of a Test Plan • Table of contents of a test plan: • Test scope • Test Objectives • Assumptions • Risk Analysis • Test Design • Roles & Responsabilities • Test schedule & Resources • Test Data Management • Test Environment • Communication Approach • Test Tools

Components of a Test Plan • Test Scope • What will be covered in the test? and What will not be covered in the test. • Test Objectives • It is a simply testing “goal”. • It is a statement of what the tester is expected to accomplish or validate during a specific testing activity. • Assumptions • Test prerequisites, which if not met could have a negative impact on the test. • Examples of assumptions: • Skill level of test resources and test budget • Entrance and exit criteria for each stage of testing could be documented here.

Components of a Test Plan • Risk Analysis • This section documents Test Risks. • Test Design • Details what types of tests must be conducted, what stages of testing are required (e.g. Unit, integration, system, performance, usability), and then outlines the sequence and timing of tests. • Roles & Responsabilities • This section defines who is responsible for each stage or type of testing.

Components of a Test Plan • Tests Schedule & Planned Resources • It Includes major test activities, the sequence of tests, initial estimates for each activity. • Test resource planning includes people, tools and facilities. • Test Data Management • Defines the data required for testing, the infrastructure requirements to manage test data. • Includes methods for preparing test data, backup and rollback procedures. • Data security issues should also be addressed here.

Components of a Test Plan • Test Environment • Environment requirements for eash stage and type of testing should be outlined. • For example, unit testing may be conducted in the development environment, while separate environments may be needed for integration and system testing. • Procedures for configuration management and release/version control should be outlined here. • Requirements for hardware and software configurations as the defect tracking mechanisms to be used.

Components of a Test Plan • Communication Approach • Should include formal and informal meetings, working sessions, processes (such as defect tracking) tools and techniques such as escalation procedures (e.g. test environment down, etc). • Tools • Any tools needed to support the testing process.

Developing a Testing Plan

Developing a Testing Plan • The Test Plan is developed by the Test Manager or Test Lead. • The testers usually provide constructive feedback through formal reviews once the test plan has been developed. • Developing a good test plan requires an extensive analysis of the complete project. • The objective of the test plan is to describe all testing that is to be accomplished. • Microsoft Word is the tool used to generate the Test Plan. • Consider the test plan an evolving document.

Developing a Testing Plan • The two inputs used in developing the test plan are: • Project Plan • Project Plan Assessment and status • Tasks to Build a Test Plan • Form the Test Team • Understand the Project Risks • Build the Test Plan

Developing a Testing Plan Form the Test Team • The test team leadership must be selected and in place prior to developing the test plan • The test team can be: • Internal IT Test Team Approach • External IT Test team Approach • Non-IT Test team Approach • Combination Test Team approach

Developing a Testing Plan Understand the Project Risks • The test team should undertake an investigation of the system characteristics in order to evaluate the potential magnitude of the risk.

Developing a Testing Plan Build the Test Plan • The development of an effective test plan involves the four subtasks: • Set Test Objectives • Develop Test Matrix • Define Test Administration • Write the Test Plan • The following slides depics examples of Test Plans, keep in mind that the content of a test plan can be tailored depending on the customer needs, however the content explained in this presentation must be followed since it is the standard for the planning process.

Developing a Testing Plan Test Plan Example

Q&A • Any questions…

Reference • CSTE Study Guide 2002 by QAI • CSTE Study Guide 2006 by QAI

Thank you…

Planning Process