How to divide test case management activities
How to divide test case management activitiesIn the same way that software and applications differ considerably, so does the way in which these products are tested for quality.
Throughout the years, quality assurance companies have found various ways to speed up the testing process and the market is definitely rich in options, so developers can definitely find something for their budget.
However, investing in a high quality
test case management tool is only the initial step.
As the name suggests, it is just a tool that QA staff has to use strategically, based on the project budget and requirements.
Most testers already have Jira installed for bug tracking, which is why they decide not to buy a separate piece of software for test case management and choose a tool that is integrated with it and expands its functionality.
Jira test case management can be done with tools such as TestUp, which allows users to generate an unlimited number of bugs and projects.
Just like bug tracking, test case management can be an extremely long and meticulous process and overlooking details can result in faulty software that lose money.
Before starting, it is essential that you make a plan, divide activities and set deadlines.
Here is a recommended list of test case management steps, in chronological order:
Firstly, you have to create the test case.
Read this article to find out how to choose a test case management tool. This is the easiest part, because today's management systems are very intuitive and offer one-click functionality.
All you have to do is enter the project name, click a button and you are good to go.
Afterwards, it is essential that you plan the test case.
For this process, organizational skills are a must; even though it may be up to the QA project management to elaborate on the plan, the entire team should be involved.
During the planning stage, you have to think of each staff member's contribution depending on their level of expertise, set deadlines and make a list of priorities and the order in which they will be tackled.
The third and longest part of the process is test case execution.
During this part, the QA staff will do all the necessary tests and report if they passed or failed.
The time needed to finish the execution varies depending on the type of software and its complexity.
For example, testing an online game is different to testing a simple smartphone app and it will require more people, time and attention.
The next step after case execution is case reporting.
The manager in charge of the project will have to make a thorough report informing of the number of tests that the product version has gone through and the ratio between successful and unsuccessful cases.
Moreover, they will have to include the time it took for the team to complete all tasks and how many activities are required until all the cases are finished.
While at this process, it is important for QA managers to remember that sometimes it is better to delay a product's release instead of launching it on the market on the announced date, but performing on below market standards.
The testing approach can change during some of these activities if the person or department in charge believes that the current one is not efficient or productive.
Making changes is not possible in the execution phase, but it can be done during the other activities.
A way to simplify things would be to invest in a system that offers customizability and flexibility.
You do not have to be a big company to do this, because quality QA solutions are competitively priced for their benefits and even their interface is made to appeal to beginners and startup companies.
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