Category: Test Management

Detail planning for each cycle A testing strategy defines the testing framework (for example, which testing techniques to use), but doesn’t define the details of the individual test cases. The test manager has to define test cases during the detail-planning phase that comes before the start of a new iteration or test cycle. The detail-planning… Continue reading Test Execution Planning

The testing strategy that results from strategic test management considerations is just a piece of paper. This means that the test manager’s main task and responsibility is to manage and guarantee the implementation of the testing strategy. To do so, he or she needs to follow four major steps19 (see fig. 6-2): Fig. 6-2Test management cycle This… Continue reading Test Planning, Control, and Monitoring

Cost-benefit relation If the scope of checks and tests is reduced (or some tests are simply dropped), the number of undiscovered defects will increase accordingly. These then become part of the shipped product and increase the level of product risk and the likelihood of incurring additional costs: The cost of a flawed product Risks due… Continue reading The Cost of Testing vs. The Cost of Defects

The estimated testing effort for a project depends on the factors discussed in the previous section. Most of these factors exert mutual influence on each other and it is virtually impossible to analyze them all exhaustively. Estimation techniques There are two basics approaches you can take to better estimate testing effort and costs: Even if… Continue reading Estimating Testing Effort

The cost of implementing a testing strategy significantly influences the testing strategy itself. The test manager therefore has to estimate the effort involved in performing the planned testing activities and the costs this entails. The resulting cost forecast details either the budget that has to be applied for or the degree to which the planned… Continue reading Testing Effort and Costs

“Risk” is one of the best criteria to use when selecting and prioritizing test objectives, testing techniques, and test cases. Risk = (expected loss in case of accident) x (the probability of the accident occurring) Risk is defined as the product of the expected loss in the case of an accident and the probability of… Continue reading Testing and Risk

In practice, testing strategies are built up using a mixture of the various approaches described above. For example, you can combine risk-based testing (an analytical approach) with exploratory testing (a reactive strategy element). The following variants are often used in real-world situations:

Selecting an overall testing strategy is one of the most important decisions that a test manger has to make. The overall objective is to establish a set of measures that maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of testing within the predefined project constraints. Or, viewed the other way around, the overall objective of testing is to… Continue reading Selecting a Testing Strategy

Test Planning A task as complex as testing requires meticulous planning on an operational level and on a strategic level. The starting points for strategic planning are provided by company testing policy and testing guidelines (if they exist), or by a generic company testing strategy. The test manager needs to transpose such generic guidelines to… Continue reading Testing Strategies

In order to perform the testing process efficiently and professionally, a project requires staff with knowledge and experience in all aspects of the multi-facetted testing oeuvre. The following roles need to be filled, ideally with appropriately qualified personnel. Test manager The test manager takes responsibility for all test activities in one or more development projects,… Continue reading Roles, Tasks, and Qualifications