TEST PLAN

1.What is a Test Plan?
A Test Plan can be defined as a document that describes the scope, approach, resources and schedule of intended test activities. It identifies test items, the features to be tested, the testing tasks, who will do each task, and any risks requiring contingency planning.
The main purpose of preparing a Test Plan is that everyone concerned with the project are in sync with regards to the scope, responsibilities, deadlines and deliverables for the project. It is in this respect that reviews and a sign-off are very important since it means that everyone is in agreement of the contents of the test plan and this also helps in case of any dispute during the course of the project (especially between the developers and the testers).

Purpose of preparing a Test Plan
A Test Plan is a useful way to think through the efforts needed to validate the acceptability of a software product.
The completed document will help people outside the test group understand the 'why' and 'how' of product validation.
It should be thorough enough to be useful but not so thorough that no one outside the test group will read it.

Contents of a Test Plan
1. Purpose
2. Scope
3. Test Approach
4. Entry Criteria
5. Resources
6. Tasks / Responsibilities
7. Exit Criteria
8. Schedules / Milestones
9. Hardware / Software Requirements
10. Risks & Mitigation Plans
11. Tools to be used
12. Deliverables
13. References
a. Procedures
b. Templates
c. Standards/Guidelines
14. Annexure
15. Sign-Off

2. Contents (in detail)
Purpose
This section should contain the purpose of preparing the test plan.

Scope
This section should talk about the areas of the application which are to be tested by the QA team and specify those areas which are definitely out of scope (screens, database, mainframe processes etc).

Test Approach
This would contain details on how the testing is to be performed and whether any specific strategy is to be followed (including configuration management).


Entry Criteria
This section explains the various steps to be performed before the start of a test (i.e.) pre-requisites. For example: Timely environment set up, starting the web server / app server, successful implementation of the latest build etc.

Resources
This section should list out the people who would be involved in the project and their designation etc.

Tasks / Responsibilities
This section talks about the tasks to be performed and the responsibilities assigned to the various members in the project.


Exit criteria
Contains tasks like bringing down the system / server, restoring system to pre-test environment, database refresh etc.

Schedules / Milestones
This sections deals with the final delivery date and the various milestone dates to be met in the course of the project.


Hardware / Software Requirements
This section would contain the details of PC’s / servers required (with the configuration) to install the application or perform the testing; specific software that needs to be installed on the systems to get the application running or to connect to the database; connectivity related issues etc.

Risks & Mitigation Plans
This section should list out all the possible risks that can arise during the testing and the mitigation plans that the QA team plans to implement incase the risk actually turns into a reality.

Tools to be used
This would list out the testing tools or utilities (if any) that are to be used in the project (e.g.) WinRunner, Test Director, PCOM, WinSQL.

Deliverables
This section contains the various deliverables that are due to the client at various points of time (i.e.) daily, weekly, start of the project, end of the project etc. These could include Test Plans, Test Procedure, Test Matrices, Status Reports, Test Scripts etc. Templates for all these could also be attached.

References
Procedures
Templates (Client Specific or otherwise)
Standards / Guidelines (e.g.) QView
Project related documents (RSD, ADD, FSD etc)

Annexure
This could contain embedded documents or links to documents which have been / will be used in the course of testing (e.g.) templates used for reports, test cases etc. Referenced documents can also be attached here.

Sign-Off
This should contain the mutual agreement between the client and the QA team with both leads / managers signing off their agreement on the Test Plan.