1.4.5. Roles in Testing
In this syllabus, two principal roles in testing are covered: a test management role and a testing role. The
activities and tasks assigned to these two roles depend on factors such as the project and product
context, the skills of the people in the roles, and the organization.
The test management role takes overall responsibility for the test process, test team and leadership of the
test activities. The test management role is mainly focused on the activities of test planning, test
monitoring and control and test completion. The way in which the test management role is carried out
varies depending on the context. For example, in Agile software development, some of the test
management tasks may be handled by the Agile team. Tasks that span multiple teams or the entire
organization may be performed by test managers outside of the development team.
The testing role takes overall responsibility for the engineering (technical) aspect of testing. The testing
role is mainly focused on the activities of test analysis, test design, test implementation and test
execution.
Different people may take on these roles at different times. For example, the test management role can
be performed by a team leader, by a test manager, by a development manager, etc. It is also possible for
one person to take on the roles of testing and test management at the same time.