1. Best Practices By Gabriel Rodriguez
Planning Process
Best Practices By
Gabriel Rodriguez

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

3. What is a Test Plan?

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. Components of a Test Plan

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. Developing a Testing Plan

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. Developing a Testing Plan
Test Plan Example

21. Developing a Testing Plan
Test Plan Example

22. Q&A
Any questions…

23. Reference
CSTE Study Guide 2002 by QAI
CSTE Study Guide 2006 by QAI

24. Thank you…