1.4.1. Test Activities and Tasks
A test process usually consists of the main groups of activities described below. Although many of these
activities may appear to follow a logical sequence, they are often implemented iteratively or in parallel.
These testing activities usually need to be tailored to the system and the project.
Test planning consists of defining the test objectives and then selecting an approach that best achieves
the objectives within the constraints imposed by the overall context. Test planning is further explained in
section 5.1.
Test monitoring and control. Test monitoring involves the ongoing checking of all test activities and the
comparison of actual progress against the plan. Test control involves taking the actions necessary to
meet the objectives of testing. Test monitoring and control are further explained in section 5.3.
Test analysis includes analyzing the test basis to identify testable features and to define and prioritize
associated test conditions, together with the related risks and risk levels (see section 5.2). The test basis
and the test objects are also evaluated to identify defects they may contain and to assess their testability.
Test analysis is often supported by the use of test techniques (see chapter 4). Test analysis answers the
question “what to test?” in terms of measurable coverage criteria.
Test design includes elaborating the test conditions into test cases and other testware (e.g., test
charters). This activity often involves the identification of coverage items, which serve as a guide to
specify test case inputs. Test techniques (see chapter 4) can be used to support this activity. Test design also includes defining the test data requirements, designing the test environment and identifying any
other required infrastructure and tools. Test design answers the question “how to test?”.
Test implementation includes creating or acquiring the testware necessary for test execution (e.g., test
data). Test cases can be organized into test procedures and are often assembled into test suites. Manual
and automated test scripts are created. Test procedures are prioritized and arranged within a test
execution schedule for efficient test execution (see section 5.1.5). The test environment is built and
verified to be set up correctly.
Test execution includes running the tests in accordance with the test execution schedule (test runs).
Test execution may be manual or automated. Test execution can take many forms, including continuous
testing or pair testing sessions. Actual test results are compared with the expected results. The test
results are logged. Anomalies are analyzed to identify their likely causes. This analysis allows us to report
the anomalies based on the failures observed (see section 5.5).
Test completion activities usually occur at project milestones (e.g., release, end of iteration, test level
completion) for any unresolved defects, change requests or product backlog items created. Any testware
that may be useful in the future is identified and archived or handed over to the appropriate teams. The
test environment is shut down to an agreed state. The test activities are analyzed to identify lessons
learned and improvements for future iterations, releases, or projects (see section 2.1.6). A test completion
report is created and communicated to the stakeholders.