Software testing is an integral part of the whole software development process. Testing makes sure that the product reaching the customers is up to the mark and works without fail. Software testing is essential to get the product free of errors and bugs. However, the testing process can not be done if you don’t create the perfect test plan document.
In
this post, we will tell you the steps to create the right test plan document
for your product testing. Follow below!
Analyze The Product
Analyzing
the product is the first step for test planning. If you want to prepare a
perfect test plan which matches the objective and scope of the desired product,
you need to understand the product in depth. To understand the product, you
have to ask the following questions- who will use the product? What will the
product be used for? How will it work? What are the add-ons used while using
it? These questions will help you build an apt testing strategy for your
product.
Define Test Objectives
After
understanding the product's notions and ifs & buts, you will have a clear
image of where you want to head with your product testing. So, now you will
define what will be the primary scope and objective of your test plan. It's
important to ensure that your test plan’s objective is aligned with the
objective of the desired product; only then will you be able to deliver a
satisfactory product.
Design Test Strategy
Moving
forward with strategy designing. Now that you understand the product and have
defined objectives for your test plans, you will have to design a method for
how you will achieve them. By designing a test strategy, we mean identifying
the testing type you are going to use. Also, you will document risks and issues
appearing in the product and create test logistics in this step.
Define Test Criteria
Testing
criteria, in simple words, means building a standard rule on whose basis you
are going to determine if the product is working fine or not. Test criteria are
major of two types- Suspension Test Criteria and Exit Test Criteria. The
suspension testing means you have determined if the X percentage of tests fail,
you will suspend the testing process and wait for the development team to fix
the bugs.
Resource Planning
Now
comes the resource planning part; this step is simple to understand but tough
to master. As the name suggests, here, you will have to choose the resources
you are going to use during the whole testing process. By resource, we mean
both human and artificial labor required for software testing. Choose the
testers that will take part in product testing and then determine which
software testing tools you are going to use.
Plan Test Environment
To
test a product, choosing an environment that matches the real-time environment
is important. To achieve the right test environment, determine the physical
environment, like front end running and server where the products are going to
be used. Remember, you can get unbiased test plan results only by achieving the
right test plan environment.
Schedule Estimation
Scheduling
test estimation can be determined as the last step before conducting the test
process. In this step, you will estimate the risks and time required for the completion
of the product testing so that the product is ready to be delivered before the
deadline. You will estimate the employee and project deadlines, project
estimation, and project risks beforehand so you are ready to deal with all
kinds of risks.
Determine Test Deliverables
Test
deliverables are the list of all the tools, documents and other components that
have to be maintained and developed in support of the testing effort. These
tests can be categorized into three parts: before, during, and after testing.
After
completion of all the tests according to your testing plan and schedule, you
will have a report of the results acquired in each test. Analyze the report and
determine what changes are required to be made to get the desired product.
