Why and how to create test plans?

Objectives of Software Test Plan

The objectives of a test plan include:

• Provide a starting and stopping point for testing
• Define the number of testers
• Define the testing schedule
• Serve as a guide to ensuring testing steps are completed
• Document defects found during testing by a test case.
• Assess project risk
• Define the test environment and release level tested
• Define test environment configuration
• Document test strategy, execution, and test results

A test plan enables testing teams to work in an organized approach during testing. By following a detailed test plan, all tests and where and how they are tested are defined within the plan. No need to guess what to do; all team members review and follow the test plan.

How to write a Test Plan

Step 1: Analyze the product

• Review project requirements and planned design architecture
• Note platforms, browsers or other non-functional testing requirements to consider
• Estimate the amount of testing time and resources needed
• Decide on a test plan example or test plan template

Step 2: Develop Test Strategy

• Decide on existing test cases to verify requirements or develop new test cases
• Add in any tests against different devices or platforms
• Write down the requirements for the test environment

Step 3: Define Test Objective

• Define the overall test objective
• Add the entry and exit criteria for the test execution effort

Step 4: Define Test Criteria

• Define the types of testing being used
• Create new tests and/or find existing tests that fulfill each requirement
• Create test suites per each test objective area

Step 5: Resource Planning

• Determine how many testers are needed to complete testing within the project timeline
• Determine how many test environments are needed

Step 6: Plan Test Environment

• Define what each test environment must include
• Install all necessary tools to enable test execution

Step 7: Schedule & Estimation

• Define a test schedule based on the expected completed date
• Estimate how many hours testing will need to complete all tests and the exit criteria

Step 8: Test Deliverables

• Create a test result summary report for communicating testing status
• Define what documentation must be retained to document testing and results
• Determine how defects are reported

Final Thoughts

Test plans can be complicated or simple depending on the needs of the software development team and the scope of the project. Test plans provide an organized method of ensuring a solid test strategy and approach for high-quality test coverage.

Test plans also assess risk and include plans to mitigate risk items. Having a test plan to follow makes testing assignments clear and keeps team members on the same page. Find a useful test plan example or template online that meets your project’s needs. Organized testing provides a greater ROI and business value to an organization. Keep testing organized by developing a complete test plan.