How do you prioritize and select functional test cases based on risk and impact?

1 Risk-based testing

Risk-based testing is a strategy that focuses on testing the features and functions that have the highest probability of failure and the highest severity of impact. By identifying and assessing the risks associated with each requirement, user story, or functionality, you can assign a priority level to each test case and plan your testing accordingly. Risk-based testing helps you optimize your testing efforts and resources, and reduce the chances of missing critical defects.

2 Impact analysis

Impact analysis is a technique that helps you determine the scope and extent of changes in the software and their effects on the existing functionality. By performing impact analysis, you can identify the areas and components that are directly or indirectly affected by the changes, and select the test cases that cover those areas and components. Impact analysis helps you ensure that your testing is relevant and comprehensive, and that you do not overlook any regression issues.

3 Test coverage

Test coverage is a measure of how well your test cases cover the requirements, user stories, or functionality of the software. By tracking and analyzing your test coverage, you can identify the gaps and overlaps in your testing, and select the test cases that fill the gaps and avoid the overlaps. Test coverage helps you improve your testing efficiency and effectiveness, and ensure that you do not miss any important aspects or scenarios.

4 Test design techniques

Test design techniques are methods and tools that help you create and select test cases based on various criteria, such as equivalence classes, boundary values, decision tables, state transitions, use cases, or user stories. By applying test design techniques, you can generate test cases that are relevant, realistic, and representative of the software behavior and user expectations. Test design techniques help you enhance your testing quality and creativity, and ensure that you test the software from different perspectives and angles.

5 Test data management

Test data management is a process that involves creating, organizing, and maintaining the data that is used for testing the software. By managing your test data effectively, you can select the test cases that use the most appropriate and realistic data for the software context and purpose. Test data management helps you increase your testing accuracy and reliability, and avoid data-related issues or errors.

6 Test automation

Test automation is a practice that involves using software tools and scripts to execute test cases automatically, without human intervention. By automating your test cases, you can select the test cases that are repetitive, tedious, or complex, and run them faster, more frequently, and more consistently. Test automation helps you save time and effort, and increase your testing productivity and coverage.

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?