How can Effective Test Planning help Increase Productivity?

The quality and user experience of a software application determine its popularity and profitable. So enterprises nowadays test their applications thoroughly to accomplish more downloads and get higher returns. But the modern mobile apps need to deliver quality user experience across many operating systems, devices and environment. Also, the QA professionals often have to perform all tests within a shorter amount of time.

That is why; it becomes essential for enterprises to make testers more productive through effective test planning. It is important for the project manager to make a comprehensive test plan to convey the testing process and workflow to testing professionals clearly. The test plan will outline and keep track of the tests to be conducted, along with ensuring that all functional and design requirements are met. At the same time, it will also provide procedure for various tests, identify test methods for each type of testing, and define the documentation process.

How Test Plans Help Businesses to Make QA Professionals Productive?

Enhances Test Coverage

Nowadays testers have to test all aspects of an application within a shorter amount of time. They further need to conduct certain tests repeatedly to get more accurate test results.  A comprehensive test plans clearly defines the types of tests to be conducted. So the QA professionals can always refer to the document to ensure all tests are covered, and all aspects of the application are tested.

Provides an Organized Test Flow

The test plan further makes it easier for testers to organize individual tests. They can refer to the documents to get an insight into the software development process. Once they understand overview of the product and its evolution, it becomes easier to understand where the bugs are located. So they can easily assess the application as an end user, and identify more bugs by following a proper test flow. 

Avoid Duplication

Often QA professionals duplicate certain tests due to inadequate information about the software and development process. The test plan clearly defines the tests to be conducted, along with keeping the tests organized. So the testers can always refer to the document to avoid duplication. They can further coordinate with each other to gather detailed information about bugs without performing the same tests again.

Effectuates Bug Generation

Unlike exploratory testing, proper test planning helps QA professionals to identify all bugs or flaws in an application. The test plan ensures that no aspect of the software remains untested. So the QA professionals clearly understand the tests to be conducted. They can simply refer to the plan and perform the tests in an organized way without any confusion.

Keeps Testers Vigilant

A comprehensive test plan further helps businesses to eliminate a process called tunnel vision. When a tester spends too much time in testing specific aspects of an application, there are chances that he may not remain vigilant. So he will surely fail to assess the specific aspects of the software with a fresh mindset. The test case requires QA professionals to perform tests in an organized way. So they have to frequently switch from one testing process to another. The switching makes it easier for the testers to identify bugs more efficiently.

Delivers Better Test Results

The test results help businesses to take crucial decisions related to the software’s release. So the testers have to present the test results in a structured way. In addition to helping professionals to generate better test results, the test plan further makes the test results more organized. As the tests are conducted according to specific sections and builds, the test results can be easily attributed to the relevant parts. The QA professionals can further use color codes to make the results more readable.

It is important for the manager to   keep the test plan dynamic and evolving. He needs to ensure that the initial test plan remains abstract, while the final test plan is concrete.  The initial test plan need not contain detailed or exact information about test cases. The project manager has to keep refining and updating the high level test ideas included in the initial test plan as the application development progresses.