Test Management Process in Software Testing

Test management is an important discipline in the process of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC). While performing a robust evaluation of any project, the test management process is important to follow.

It is the practice of monitoring and managing application testing to make sure resources are focused on important areas of the application/software. Using test management, a test manager/team lead can organize, analyze, control, and also trace testing processes while testing the resources.

In this article, we will see an in-depth perspective of the test management process in Software testing activity.

What is Test Management? [Meaning and Purpose]

Test management is the process where test-related activities are controlled and organized for an easy testing process of the business app/software. There are numerous tools for performing test management. It helps to manage automated and manual tests specified by the software test process.

Test management ensures that high-quality applications/software are delivered. Also, it makes sure that the customers’ requirements are fulfilled. It helps develop software apps within the deadlines and facilitates the collaboration of developers and testers teams.

In short, test management offers help to software developers in the following manner:

• Consistent and smoother projects
• On-time product delivery
• Customer satisfaction

Different phases of the Test Management process

You might have got a basic idea of the importance of test management for enhancing software design, delivery process, and development. Moreover, one can enjoy test management process benefits only when the entire process is conducted adequately and systematically.

There are mainly two phases of test management:

• Planning phase
• Execution phase

Both phases have their unique sub-processes. We will explore them here:

Planning phase

Normally, planning is the first phase where developers and testers always plan the whole test cycle. The planning phase is divided into sub-processes as mentioned below:

1 Risk analysis:

Risks might or might not occur during SDLC. Then too, they might affect the software quality adversely and the company’s reputation can be at great risk. Hence, before starting the project, it is necessary to determine risk factors and also come up with all possible solutions for those risks.

2 Test estimations:

Test estimation is predicting the time needed for different test activities or test phases. It is considered to be one of the crucial tasks that are to be performed during the test management process.

3 Test planning:

This is one of the important steps in performing all test-related activities easily & efficiently. This shows the strategy, test scope, suspension/exit criteria, time scheduling, resource planning, etc. An application might fail in the absence of an amazing test plan. An effective test plan is significant for the development of enterprise-level software systems.

4 Test organization:

Once planning is done, the next step is to test the organization. It is about defining who will be responsible for different tasks of the testing process. So, after hiring software developers in India, you should build a strong team and give them tasks carefully for proper test execution.

Execution Phase

The execution phase of the test management process involves the actual execution of test cases and reporting of results. This includes the following steps:

• Test environment setup: This involves preparing the environment required for testing, such as hardware, software, and data.
• Test data preparation: This step involves preparing the data that will be used for testing.
• Test case execution: Test cases are executed based on the test plan and test design. This step involves verifying whether the system behaves as expected for each test case.
• Defect reporting: Any defects or issues found during testing are reported, documented, and tracked until resolution.
• Test closure: Upon completion of testing, the test environment is dismantled, test artifacts are archived, and the final test report is prepared.
• Status reporting: Regular status updates are provided to stakeholders on the progress of testing, including the number of test cases executed, the number of defects found, and their status.

Who is responsible for the Test Management process?

Test management is typically the responsibility of the Test Manager, who is accountable for planning, designing, executing, and reporting on testing activities. The Test Manager is responsible for ensuring that testing is performed efficiently, effectively, and within the constraints of time, budget, and scope. The Test Manager may work with other stakeholders, such as project managers, developers, business analysts, and stakeholders to ensure that testing is aligned with overall project goals and objectives. The Test Manager also ensures that testing processes and methodologies are followed and that the quality of the testing process is maintained throughout the project lifecycle.

Advantages of the Test Management Process

The benefits of test management are many and include:

• Increased efficiency: Test management helps to streamline the testing process, reducing the time and effort required to complete testing. This can result in faster time to market and lower costs.
• Improved quality: By having a structured approach to testing, test management helps to ensure that all relevant tests are performed and that any issues are identified and addressed. This leads to an improved quality of the final product.
• Better risk management: Test management helps to identify potential risks early in the development cycle, allowing for proactive measures to be taken to mitigate those risks. This helps to reduce the likelihood of defects in the final product.
• Increased visibility: Test management provides a centralized repository for all testing artifacts, such as test cases, test plans, and test results. This provides increased visibility into the testing process and makes it easier to identify areas for improvement.
• Improved collaboration: Test management helps to bring together different teams and stakeholders, such as developers, testers, business analysts, and stakeholders, to work towards a common goal of delivering a high-quality product.
• Better documentation: Test management helps to ensure that all testing activities are documented and recorded, providing a clear and complete history of the testing process. This helps to ensure that the testing process is repeatable and that the results are consistent and reliable.

Challenges of the Test Management Process

Test management can present several challenges, including:

• Resource constraints: Testing can be a resource-intensive process, requiring significant time, budget, and personnel. Managing these resources effectively can be a challenge, especially for large and complex projects.
• Changing requirements: As the development process progresses, requirements and functionalities may change, requiring updates to the test plan and test cases. Keeping track of these changes and ensuring that testing remains aligned with the project goals can be challenging.
• Integration and compatibility issues: Ensuring that the system under test integrates and is compatible with other systems can be difficult, especially when dealing with complex systems or systems that have been developed by different teams.

In conclusion

In conclusion, test management is a critical aspect of software testing, providing structure and organization to the testing process. It helps to ensure that testing is performed efficiently, effectively, and within the constraints of time, budget, and scope. By providing a centralized repository for all testing artifacts, test management provides increased visibility into the testing process and helps to improve collaboration among different teams and stakeholders. Hence, test management is important in software testing.

Author Bio: Vishal Shah working as an executive at TatvaSoft.com. He is responsible for new technology integrations in development projects. He always prefers to share his valuable insights among the development audience with the help of blogs.