Testing Planning Process

A test plan document is a record of the test planning process that describes the scope,
approach, resources, and schedule of intended test activities.
A comprehensive test plan is the cornerstone of successful software testing, serving as a
strategic document guiding the testing team throughout the Software Development Life Cycle
(SDLC).
By meticulously outlining the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing activities, a
well-crafted test plan ensures thorough coverage, minimizes risks, and aligns testing efforts with
business goals. This guide delves into the key components of an effective test plan, step-by-step
instructions for creating one, and best practices to enhance your test planning process.

Key Components of a Test Plan

1. Scope
o Defines the boundaries of the testing endeavor
o Specifies the subject of the test
o Specifies any features or functionalities to be tested
2. Out of Scope
o Describes the features/functionalities that are purposefully left out of the testing
effort
o Defines what is not being tested
3. Timeline
o Sets expectations for testing completion
o Outlines the timetable for each testing phase, including milestones and
deliverables
4. Resource Allocation/Roles and Responsibilities
o Describes the roles and responsibilities of team members involved in the testing
effort
o Defines resource allocation for each testing phase
 5. Tools
o Describe the testing tools to be used (test management tools, automation tools,
CI/CD tools…etc.)
6. Environment
o Defines the criteria for the test environment
o Describes the hardware, software, and network configurations that make up the
test environment
7. Deliverables
o Describes what you expect to come out of each testing phase (such as test
reports, test results, and other relevant documents)
8. Exit Criteria
o Defines the criteria for finishing each testing phase
o Defines the criteria for accepting or rejecting the system under test
9. Defect Management
o Describes how to report, track, and manage bugs found during testing
o Defines the severity levels of the bugs and how to fix them

Six Steps to creating a test plan

1. Define the release scope
Clearly outline the boundaries of the testing effort by defining the scope of the release. This
involves identifying the features and functionalities that will be included in the testing process.
Tasks to address include:
• Specify the modules or components to be tested
• Identify any excluded features (out of scope) and reasons for exclusion
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure a shared understanding of the release scope

2. Schedule timelines
Establish a timeline for the testing process to ensure that testing activities align with the overall
project schedule.
Tasks to address include:
 • Set milestones and deadlines for each testing phase
• Consider dependencies on development activities and adjust timelines accordingly
• Communicate the testing schedule to all relevant team members

3. Define test objectives

Clearly articulate the test objectives or goals and objectives of the testing effort to align it with
the overall project goals.
Tasks to address include:
• Specify functional and non-functional testing objectives
• Align test objectives with business requirements and user expectations
• Ensure that test objectives contribute to the overall quality of the software

4. Determine test deliverables

Identify the documentation and reports that will be produced as part of the testing process.
Tasks to address include:
• List expected deliverables for each testing phase (e.g., test plans, test cases, test reports)
• Define the format and structure of each deliverable
• Clarify the audience for each deliverable and the purpose it serves

5. Design the test strategy

Develop a high-level strategy that outlines how testing will be conducted, considering the
testing approach and methodologies.
Tasks to address include:
• Define the testing levels (unit, integration, system, acceptance)
• Specify testing types (functional/ non-functional testing, regression testing, performance
testing)
• Determine the use of manual and automated testing (if applicable)
• Consider risk analysis and mitigation strategies
• Consider approaches to test design
 6. Plan the test environment and test data
Ensure the testing environment is set up with the required hardware, software, and
configurations. Plan for the necessary test data to simulate real-world scenarios.
Tasks to address include:
• Define the criteria for the test environment, including hardware specifications and
software configurations
• Ensure that the test environment mirrors the production environment
• Plan for the creation and management of test data
• Consider any tools or resources needed for test data generation and management

Reporting and historical data recording.

Test summary report is a written account of your test strategy, deliverables, and results for a
particular test cycle. The main objective of a test summary report, regardless of your
development methodology, is to record the actions and results of the testing activities
performed, give visibility to your team, and create a historical record of your test efforts for a
particular sprint, test cycle, or release.
Here are five actions you can take to create an efficient test summary report:
1. Describe the scope of testing
2. Document test environment details
3. Summarize the types of testing performed and test results
4. Capture any lessons learned throughout testing
5. Report on the status of exit criteria

1. Describe the scope of testing

Information to consider including in your document overview:
• Who will read the report?
• What information will they need to know to take action in their roles?
• What are their expectations?
Information to consider including in your product overview:
• A brief description of the product and its features
• The scope of the testing effort
 o Modules that are in scope
o Modules that are out of scope
o Areas not tested due to constraints

2. Document test environment details

Test environment details help stakeholders comprehend testing conditions and any limitations
that may have influenced testing results. Typical information to include about the testing
environment is:
• The hardware and software used
• Application URL
• Database version
• Details of any tools used for bug management
A helpful tip is to have a centralized location for all test environment information, making it
simple to document and share.

3. Summarize the types of testing performed and test results

To ensure that your application is tested properly and according to your test strategy, it can be
important for your team to document the different types of software testing performed.
Examples of testing types include:
1. Functional testing
2. Performance testing
3. Usability testing
4. Integration testing
5. Regression testing

4. Capture any lessons learned throughout testing

It can be important for your team to document any recommendations and lessons learned
during the testing process so that you can refer back to them in the next testing phase and
make recommendations such as enhancements to the product, testing activities, or any other
relevant areas that can help your team plan for upcoming release cycles.
Examples of lessons to document in your test report include:
 • Any best practices that emerged during the testing process
• Issues encountered
• Future improvements to the testing process
• Testing techniques, tools, or processes that successfully detected defects or improved
the testing effort

5. Report on the status of exit criteria

Exit criteria outline the conditions to meet before testing is complete to ensure that all aspects
of the software have been thoroughly tested and the product is ready for distribution.
It’s important to report on the status of exit criteria to identify defects and risks that need to be
addressed prior to continuing to the next phase. When reporting on exit criteria status, you
should ask questions such as, “Did testing meet exit criteria?” “Are there any exit criteria that
were not met?” “For what reason?”

What to include in an agile test summary report

In agile, the test summary report serves as a record of test execution and is less formal and
more results-oriented than if your software development life cycle is more of a waterfall style.
While these reports should all include the same basic information necessary for the target
audience, there’s no set formula, and testers should gauge what data to add depending on the
test report’s objective.
Your test report should be lean and contain a few essential components such as the testing
environment, the testing scope, and the testing specifics.
Here are the four steps to write an agile test summary report:
1. Test objective: Explain what type of testing you executed and why.
2. Test cases/ execution details/ test coverage: Explain the test suite and include when the
test was executed, what type of test was executed, and where it is stored.
3. Defect status: This section should include the following information about any bugs or
defects discovered during testing:
o Total number of bugs discovered during testing
▪ This data can help determine the overall quality of the product being
tested.
o Status of bugs discovered during testing and links to issues or bug reports
 ▪ This reports whether the bugs are still open, closed, or being addressed
by the development and testing team.
o Breakdown by severity and priority
▪ This information can help you better understand the significance of each
bug and the level of attention it needs.
4. Platform and test environment configuration details: Include information about the
testing environment. If you share any test environment details regarding an application’s
code, ensure you consider security and compliance.

Agile test summary report template

Although there isn’t a strict set of rules on what a test summary should contain, here’s a
template that you can use as a starting point.

Project Information: The testing project name and description

Test Objective: The purpose of testing and testing type

Test Summary: The number of test cases planned, executed, passed, and failed

Defects: Total Bugs, Status of Bugs, the number of bugs that are currently open, closed, or being
responded to. Links to relevant defect reports or issues. Breakdown by Severity and Priority. High
Severity: The number of bugs with high severity. Medium Severity: The number of bugs with medium
severity. Low Severity: The number of bugs with low severity

Remember, you can complement your test summary report with whatever elements are most
relevant to your team. For a real-world example of an effective Test Summary report, check out
this example of a test summary report generated by TestRail.