Fundamental Test Process

Basics for test process on an everyday basis. Ideal for giving you a higher level idea of what a software tester does.

Ideal for a Junior Software Tester or who is intended to take the ISTQB-ISEB exam.

Fundamental Test Process – Click to Enlarge

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Download the A3 size to print in that size. (PDF format)

I have shared this mind map to copy and amend it if you want to.

Fundamental Test Process

1. Planning & Control

Planning

• Determine the scope, risks & objectives
• Implement Test Policy / Strategy
• Determine Test Approach
• Determine resources required
• Schedule the test activities
• Determine the Exit Criteria

Control

• Monitor activities
• Compare progress vs plan
• Take control when required

2. Analysis & Design

• Review the Test Basis
• Eval Test Basis for test-ability
• Identify & priorities Test Conditions
• Design & priorities high-level Test Cases
• Identify Test Data
• Trace-ability between Test Bases & Test Condition
• Test environment & Infrastructure tools

3. Implementation & Execution

Test Implementation

• Finalise, Implement & prioritise Test Cases
• Create Test Data
• Check environment ready
• Create Test Suites
• Develop & priorities Test Procedures
• Test harness / automated scripts (optional)

Test Execution

• Execute Test Procedure as planned
• Log the outcome
• Compare actual vs expected
• Report discrepancies as Incidents
• Analyse Incidents for cause
• Retest / Regression

4. Evaluating Exit Criteria & Reporting

• Check logs against Exit Criteria
• Assess if more tests are needed or Exit Criteria need to be changed
• Write Test Summary Report for stakeholders

5. Test Closure

• Check planned deliverables
• Close Incident Reports
• Handover to maintenance
• Finalise & archive test-ware / environment
• Document acceptance of a system
• Analyse lessons learned for future projects & improve test maturity

Tools I’ve used to help with the video and mind mapping:

Mind Mapping – Mindmeister – Plan and brainstorm online with friends with the free mind mapping tool MindMeister.

References:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_test_documentation

www.computing.dcu.ie/~davids/courses/CA267/ieee829mtp.pdf

standards.ieee.org/findstds/standard/829-2008.html

www.ufjf.br/eduardo_barrere/files/2011/06/SQETestIncidentReportTemplate.pdf

www.geekinterview.com/question_details/46503