Test planning and control

Test planning is the activity of verifying the mission of testing, defining the objectives of testing and the specification of test activities in order to meet the objectives and mission.

Test control is the ongoing activity of comparing actual progress against the plan, and reporting the status, including deviations from the plan. It involves taking actions necessary to meet the mission and objectives of the project. In order to control testing, it should be monitored throughout the project. Test planning takes into account the feedback from monitoring and control activities.

Planning is influenced by the test policy of the organization, the scope of testing, objectives, risks, constraints, criticality, testability and the availability of resources. The more the project and test planning progresses, the more information is available, and the more detail that can be included in the plan. Test planning is a continuous activity and is performed in all life cycle processes and activities. Feedback from test activities is used to recognize changing risks so that planning can be adjusted.

Test planning activities may include:

• Determining the scope and risks, and identifying the objectives of testing.
• Defining the overall approach of testing (the test strategy), including the definition of the test levels and entry and exit criteria.
• Integrating and coordinating the testing activities intthe software life cycle activities: acquisition, supply, development, operation and maintenance.
• Making decisions about what ttest, what roles will perform the test activities, how the test activities should be done, and how the test results will be evaluated.
• Scheduling test analysis and design activities.
• Scheduling test implementation, execution and evaluation.
• Assigning resources for the different activities defined.
• Defining the amount, level of detail, structure and templates for the test documentation.
• Selecting metrics for monitoring and controlling test preparation and execution, defect resolution and risk issues.
• Setting the level of detail for test procedures in order tprovide enough information support reproducible test preparation and execution.