What are the best practices for coordinating and communicating with different test level teams?

1 Define test level roles and responsibilities

One of the first steps to coordinate and communicate with different test level teams is to define their roles and responsibilities clearly. This helps to avoid confusion, duplication, or gaps in the testing scope, coverage, and resources. Each test level team should have a designated leader, who is responsible for planning, executing, reporting, and managing the test activities and artifacts. The test level roles and responsibilities should be documented and communicated to all the stakeholders.

2 Establish test level objectives and criteria

Another important step is to establish the test level objectives and criteria, which define the purpose, scope, and expected outcomes of each test level. The test level objectives and criteria should align with the project goals, requirements, and risks, and should be measurable, realistic, and achievable. They should also specify the entry and exit criteria, which determine when to start and stop the testing activities. The test level objectives and criteria should be agreed upon by all the test level teams and stakeholders, and reviewed and updated regularly.

3 Use test management tools and methods

To coordinate and communicate with different test level teams effectively, it is advisable to use test management tools and methods, which can facilitate the planning, execution, monitoring, and control of the testing process. Test management tools and methods can help to create, organize, track, and report the test artifacts, such as test cases, test data, test results, defects, and metrics. They can also enable the collaboration, communication, and integration of the test level teams, by providing a common platform, interface, and format for the test information.

4 Implement test level reviews and feedback

A key practice to coordinate and communicate with different test level teams is to implement test level reviews and feedback, which can ensure the quality and consistency of the testing process. Test level reviews and feedback involve checking, verifying, and evaluating the test artifacts, activities, and outcomes, and providing constructive suggestions for improvement. Test level reviews and feedback can be conducted by peers, experts, or stakeholders, and can be formal or informal, depending on the context and complexity of the testing process.

5 Align test level schedules and dependencies

Another essential practice is to align the test level schedules and dependencies, which can optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of the testing process. Test level schedules and dependencies define the timeframes, milestones, and resources for each test level, as well as the relationships and interactions between them. Test level schedules and dependencies should be realistic, flexible, and adaptable, and should consider the availability, constraints, and risks of the test level teams. They should also be coordinated, communicated, and synchronized with the project schedules and dependencies.

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?