What are the best practices for selecting and prioritizing test cases based on risk-based testing techniques?

2 Assess and rate your risks

Once you have defined your risk criteria, you need to assess and rate your risks for each feature or function of your system. To do this, you can use tools such as risk matrices, which are tables that show the combination of likelihood and impact for each risk. Alternatively, you could use risk scoring, which is a numerical value that represents the level of risk for each feature or function. Additionally, there is risk ranking, which is a list that orders the features or functions from the highest to the lowest risk. The scale or method used to assess and rate risks can be qualitative, quantitative, ordinal, or nominal.

3 Select and prioritize your test cases

After you have assessed and rated your risks, you can use them to select and prioritize your test cases. Risk-based test case selection involves choosing the test cases that cover the highest risk features or functions, while risk-based test case prioritization orders the test cases from the highest to the lowest risk. Additionally, risk-based test case optimization eliminates or reduces the test cases that cover the lowest risk features or functions. Different criteria or methods can be used to select and prioritize your test cases, such as coverage, cost, time, quality, or reliability.

4 Review and update your risks and test cases

Risks and test cases are ever-evolving, making regular review and updating essential. You can use triggers such as changes in requirements, design, code, or environment, feedback from stakeholders, users, or testers, results from testing, monitoring, or analysis, and new or emerging risks or issues to help guide your reviews. For updating purposes, you might consider using risk registers, test management systems, dashboards, or reports. By regularly reviewing and updating your risks and test cases, you can ensure they are up-to-date and accurate.

5 Communicate and collaborate with your team and stakeholders

RBT is not a solo activity, but rather a team effort that requires communication and collaboration with your team and stakeholders. Doing so will ensure a common understanding and agreement on the risk criteria, assessment, rating, selection, and prioritization. You can share and exchange information and knowledge on the risks and test cases, as well as align and coordinate your testing activities and resources. Additionally, you can report and escalate any risks or issues that need attention or action. Different channels or techniques can be used to communicate with your team and stakeholders, such as meetings, emails, chats, or forums. By following these best practices, RBT can be applied to your testing projects to help deliver quality software that meets stakeholder and user expectations.