How do you cope with changing test scenarios and expectations?

1 Understand the change

The first step to cope with changing test scenarios and expectations is to understand the nature and scope of the change. Is it a minor tweak or a major overhaul? Does it affect one feature or the whole system? Who requested the change and why? What are the implications for the test plan, the test cases, and the test environment? You need to communicate with the stakeholders, such as the developers, the project managers, and the clients, to get clear and accurate information about the change and its impact on the testing process.

4 Execute and monitor

After you have adapted your test plan, you need to execute and monitor your test cases according to the new test scenarios and expectations. You need to run your test cases in a controlled and consistent manner, using the appropriate test techniques and methods. You need to collect and record your test results, including the pass/fail status, the defects, and the issues. You need to analyze and report your test results, using the appropriate quality metrics and indicators. You need to verify and validate your test results, using the agreed-upon test criteria and standards.

5 Learn and improve

The final step to cope with changing test scenarios and expectations is to learn and improve from your experience. You need to review and evaluate your test execution and monitoring process, identifying the strengths and weaknesses, the successes and failures, and the lessons learned. You need to share your findings and feedback with the stakeholders, highlighting the achievements and challenges, the risks and opportunities, and the recommendations and suggestions. You need to apply your learning and improvement to your future testing projects, enhancing your test skills and knowledge.