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Imagine you have recently downloaded a newly launched game. Isn’t it frustrating if the game freezes abruptly, disrupting your gameplay? To ensure this doesn’t happen, QA teams follow a detailed test management plan to mitigate any glitches that can reach the end users.
That’s how you can eventually enjoy a smooth and fun-filled gaming experience every time.
In this blog, we will learn everything about test management, its importance, and the necessary steps to design a test management plan in detail. Let’s start now.
What is Test Management?
Test management is a streamlined process of strategizing, planning, and executing different testing activities. It ensures that every major and minor errors and defects are mitigated to deliver reliable and high-quality products.
Thus, efficient test management requires continuous coordination, management of different testing environments, and communication among stakeholders.
Why is Test Management Important?
In simple words, test management is like a roadmap that guides QA professionals to perform necessary processes. Necessary tasks such as planning the testing structure, and assigning the tasks to the team become easier. The best part is that it helps in saving a good chunk of time and cost.
Let’s have a look at the below points to understand the importance of test management.
- Identifying issues– Find and fix the errors and bugs at the early stages.
- Risk Mitigation– It helps reduce the chances of security breaches, data loss, or software failures due to unidentified bugs.
- Timely Delivery– You can find and resolve the bugs and issues on time and deliver them to launch in the market without much delay.
- User Satisfaction– Implementing streamlined testing reduces the chance of user frustration.
- Smooth Collaboration– Helps in coordinating efforts among the team members to complete testing on time with effective communication.
Step-By-Step Process of Test Management
The test management process comprises mainly two phases i.e. Planning and Execution. However, they are divided into further stages for a detailed approach. Let’s have a look.
Planning includes the following steps-
#1 Risk Analysis
#2 Estimating the Test
#3 Test Planning
#4 Identifying Important Tools
#5 Test Organization
Execution comprises the following steps…
#6 Test Control and Monitoring
#7 Issue Management
#8 Test Reporting
Now, it’s time to explore the above points for test management in detail.
#Step 1 Risk Analysis
The phase of risk analysis involves identifying the risk factors in the software and finding efficient solutions. It becomes much easier to avoid potential failures which may occur later.
No one can predict if there is any risk or not. But, it is essential to dig out the crucial factors which may lead to a critical situation. Mainly, there are two types of risks called Product risks and Project risks for easy test management.
Thus, the product risks are mainly found in a developed product. On the other hand, project risks are connected to the work process.
#Step 2 Estimating the Tests
Test estimation is mainly related to predicting the time taken for every test activity. Although it may not be accurate, it gives a rough idea of how much time it may take to complete a particular project.
Hence, you can look at the previous projects handled by software testing company in India and set a particular timeline for efficient test management.
#Step 3 Test Planning
The planning step in test management is quite a long process. This phase requires defining the test scope, objectives, strategy, scheduling time, and resources. Also, you must set the requirements clearly to avoid any confusion.
Start by describing the approach of the different testing processes you need to implement. Make a detailed list of the features to focus on and what to avoid for testing and keep track of every improvement and error.
#Step 4 Important Tools for Test Management
Test management tools are essential for enhancing collaboration, efficiency, and quality. With better organization, analysis, and reporting, you can ensure that the software meets the requirements.
These are the following test management tools you must consider.
- Jira– It is one of the popular tools you can utilize for project management and tracking bugs.
- qTest– You can focus on the end-to-end process of test management and also get real-time insights on testing situations.
- TestLink– It is an open-source tool specifically designed for test plans, test plans, and write better test cases. TestLink also offers version control and collaboration for testing.
- XRay– It is an extension of Jira which mainly emphasizes testing and provides version control and effective collaboration.
- PractiTest– It has a user-friendly interface that enhances test management, and result tracking with crucial integrations for various testing frameworks.
- TestRail– It is an important tool that also allows test case management and execution with a clear overview of the progress.
- Zephyr- This tool is an extension of Jira specifically used for test management. Zephyr offers various features like test case execution, creation, and integration of agile methodologies.
#Step 5 Test Organization
Test organization is the foundation of successful testing results. It sets a defined groundwork to conduct detailed testing and a correct evaluation of the software’s functionality by onboarding the best software testing service.
These are the following activities involved in the test organization phase.
- Resource Allocation– Provide the testing team with robust tools, software resources, and hardware required for conducting tests.
- Setting up the Test Environment– It is essential to create a controlled environment for testing that mimics real-world conditions by configuring hardware, databases, software, and networks.
- Scheduling– Plan the time and sequence of test execution by carefully assessing the resource availability and dependencies.
- Documentation– Detailed documentation of test cases, steps, preconditions, and expected outcomes is crucial for efficient test management.
- Management and Stability– Ensure consistency and stability of the test environment. Also, manage the tests
- Collaboration and Training– Provide necessary training to the team regarding the methodologies and tools to enhance collaboration.
- Test Data Preparation– Gathering relevant data or testing that mirrors the actual scenarios.
#Step 6 Test Monitoring
Monitoring of the tests and keeping track of progress is essential to mitigate the issues beforehand. Doing this enables test managers to guide the team members to enhance the quality of upcoming testing processes with better visibility and control. You can use automation tools for monitoring large projects and gather relevant data easily.
On the other hand, test control is important to ensure that the testing is happening according to your expected plan. Thus, reducing the differences and making necessary changes help you control the test management process.
#Step 7 Issue Management
The issues can arise at any stage during the software testing process. They can be extremely small but affect the product quality immensely. On the other hand, some issues affect the performance which may not let you move to further processes without mitigating them, especially games.
Hence, an experienced QA testing company takes care of every aspect with simplified issue management. As a result, the test management process becomes easier by resolving the issues seamlessly.
Keep the following points in mind to enhance your issue management process.
- Every issue and its impact can differ from one another. You must give a clear description, steps, screenshots, etc. to address them.
- Issue tracking starting from identification till resolution will ensure that everything is completed in a given time.
- Validation of resolved issues by verifying the fixes will ensure that errors have been solved without any regression.
#Step 8 Test Report
The task of test management becomes complex with the upcoming development process. To solve that issue, a test report becomes handy to cross-check that every step is performed carefully to meet the quality requirements.
After the testing is done, you can submit the final report to the clients and stakeholders. Thus, a test report is a crucial document that keeps everything in check, identifies loopholes, and solves them instantly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, test management plays a crucial role in accurate planning, execution, and rectifying issues in a controlled manner. Its systematic process ensures a smooth delivery of high-quality software that aligns with the user’s expectations.
