How do you handle the changes and deviations from the test plan?

1 Understand the scope and impact

The first step to handle changes and deviations from the test plan is to understand the scope and impact of the change or deviation. Is it a minor modification or a major overhaul? Does it affect only one feature or the whole system? How does it affect the test objectives, test cases, test data, test environment, and test schedule? You need to assess the change or deviation from different perspectives and communicate with the stakeholders to clarify the expectations and requirements.

2 Update the test plan accordingly

The second step is to update the test plan accordingly based on the scope and impact of the change or deviation. You may need to revise the test strategy, test scope, test approach, test criteria, test resources, and test deliverables. You may also need to add, modify, or delete some test cases, test data, or test scripts. You should document the changes and deviations in the test plan and keep track of the version history and the approval process.

3 Re-prioritize and re-allocate the test activities

The third step is to re-prioritize and re-allocate the test activities based on the updated test plan. You may need to adjust the test schedule, test effort, test coverage, and test risk. You may also need to reassign the test tasks, test roles, and test responsibilities among the test team members. You should consider the dependencies, dependencies, and dependencies of the test activities and balance the quality, time, and cost constraints.

4 Perform regression and impact testing

The fourth step is to perform regression and impact testing to ensure that the change or deviation does not introduce new defects or affect the existing functionality. You should select the appropriate test cases, test data, and test tools to execute the regression and impact testing. You should also monitor the test results, test defects, and test metrics to evaluate the quality and stability of the software after the change or deviation.

5 Communicate and collaborate with the stakeholders

The fifth step is to communicate and collaborate with the stakeholders throughout the process of handling changes and deviations from the test plan. You should inform the stakeholders about the changes and deviations, the updated test plan, the re-prioritized and re-allocated test activities, and the regression and impact testing results. You should also solicit feedback, suggestions, and approval from the stakeholders and resolve any issues or conflicts that may arise.

6 Learn and improve from the experience

The sixth and final step is to learn and improve from the experience of handling changes and deviations from the test plan. You should conduct a post-mortem analysis to identify the root causes, the lessons learned, and the best practices for dealing with changes and deviations from the test plan. You should also document the findings, recommendations, and action items for future reference and improvement.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?