A test plan is the roadmap that directs testing and helps to ensure that whatever you are testing meets some basic quality metrics. It describes the goals, extent, tactics and tools needed to deliver a comprehensive testing. In this article, we will focus on the important elements of a strong test plan and how to best create one.
Key Components of a Test Plan
Test Objectives:
Be specific about what you want to achieve with the testing effort.
Decide the functionalities to test.
Set quality criteria and acceptance rules
Test Scope:
Define the scope of the testing process itself.
Choose the features, modules, and functionalities that need to be included.
Determine the testing type like functional, non-functional or performance based testing.
Test Strategy:
Identify the test strategy which will be used to determine the overall testing method.
Define the type of testing — unit, integration, system & acceptance tests.
Develop the testing tools and frameworks that you will utilize.
Test Schedule:
Develop a clear testing plan that outlines expectations and deadlines.
Distributing responsibility between the testing team and resources
Establish a plan for execution of the test, reporting defects and fixing them.
Test Environment:
Explain the hardware, software and network configurations needed for testing.
Identify the test data to use including sample data/test case
Defining the environment for testing execution (testing lab or a virtual one)
Test Team:
Test team members — find out who will be part of testing the process.
Establish what each team member is responsible for.
Explain what training and skills will the team require.
Risk Assessment:
Find out risks that could affect the testing process.
Determine how you would mitigate each of these.
Identify and measure risk throughout the testing cycle.
Tips to Write the Test Plan
Involve Stakeholders:
Work with developers, business analysts and other stakeholders for alignment –
Solicit feedback on requirements, priorities and expectations.
Prioritize Test Cases:
Target high-risk areas and key functionalities.
Apply risk-based testing methods to maximize the amount of test coverage.
Automate Where Possible:
Increase efficiency and decrease manual effort with automating repetitive test cases.
Though, you can use test automation tools to fasten the process.
Continuous Improvement:
Make sure to keep the test plan up-to-date with ever-evolving requirements.
Input test results in order to analyze them and find out what can be optimized.
Building in lessons learnt from past projects
A test plan document is a reference and roadmap for your testing process. Which ensures the testing team is on the same page and forms coherence to produce results seamlessly in every aspect of software quality. By using these best practices and customizing the test plan according to your project requirements, one can improve the quality of software at a high level.
