Test Strategy vs. Test Plan: What's The Difference?

The terms "test plan" and "test strategy" are frequently confused due to their overlapping purposes in the software testing process. A test strategy outlines the general approach.

Here's a detailed description.

What's test strategy?

A test strategy is a high-level document that outlines the general approach, objectives, and overarching principles of the software testing process within an organization .

It defines the test design techniques to be used, the testing process, and the way in which testing will be carried out to ensure that the software meets its requirements.

The test strategy is not project-specific but applies to multiple projects, setting a standardized approach to testing across the organization.

It covers aspects like testing objectives, test levels (unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing), test types (functional, performance, security, usability testing), roles and responsibilities, tool selection, risk management strategies, and test environment setup.

Example of a Test Strategy

Here is a simplified example of what might be included in a test strategy document for a software development company:

Document Title: ABC Software Test Strategy

1. Introduction

• Purpose of the document
• Scope of testing within the organization

2. Test Objectives

• Ensure software reliability, performance, and security
• Meet all specified requirements and user expectations

3. Test Levels

• Unit Testing: Developers will perform to validate individual components.
• Integration Testing: To ensure that integrated components function together.
• System Testing: End-to-end testing of the complete application.
• Acceptance Testing: Conducted with real users to ensure the system meets their needs.

4. Test Types

• Functional Testing: To verify that each function of the software operates in conformance with the requirement specification.
• Performance Testing: To ensure the software performs well under expected workloads.
• Security Testing: To identify any vulnerabilities within the software.
• Usability Testing: To ensure the software is user-friendly and intuitive.

5. Roles and Responsibilities

• Test Manager: Overall responsibility for the test strategy and coordination.
• Test Engineers: Execute tests according to plan.
• Developers: Unit testing and fixing reported bugs.
• Quality Assurance: Oversee the overall quality and adherence to the strategy.

6. Tools and Technologies

• List of software and tools used for managing and executing tests (e.g., JIRA for bug tracking, Selenium for automated testing).

7. Risk Management

• Identification of potential risks and the strategies to mitigate them.

8. Test Environment

• Specification of the test environment setup, including hardware, software, and network configurations.

9. Approval

• Sign-off by the test manager and project stakeholders.

This test strategy document serves as a blueprint for the testing approach across various projects, ensuring consistency and effectiveness in identifying and addressing software defects.

What's A Test Plan?

A test plan is a detailed document that outlines the strategy, resources, schedule, and scope of testing activities for a specific project. It describes how the testing will be carried out, including the types of testing to be performed, the features to be tested, the tasks to be completed, the personnel involved, the resources required, the test environment setup, and the timeline for testing. The test plan is tailored to the needs of a particular project and serves as a guide for the testing team to execute testing activities efficiently and effectively.

Example of a Test Plan

Here's a simplified example of a test plan for a web application project:

Document Title: XYZ Web Application Test Plan

1. Introduction

• Purpose of the document
• Objectives of testing

2. Test Items

• List of items to be tested, including specific features and functionalities of the web application.

3. Features to Be Tested

• User authentication and authorization
• Form input validation
• Database interaction
• Responsive design across different devices and browsers

4. Features Not to Be Tested

• Third-party payment gateway integration (assumed to be tested by the third-party provider)

5. Approach

• Description of the overall testing strategy, including manual testing for user experience aspects and automated testing for regression and performance testing.

6. Pass/Fail Criteria

• Definitions of criteria for passing or failing a test case.

7. Suspension Criteria and Resumption Requirements

• Conditions under which testing will be suspended and resumed.

8. Test Deliverables

• Test plan document
• Test cases/scripts
• Test reports

9. Testing Tasks

• Specific tasks to be performed, such as test case preparation, test execution, bug reporting, and re-testing.

10. Environmental Needs

• Description of the hardware, software, network setup, and other resources required for the test environment.

11. Responsibilities

• Roles and responsibilities of the team members involved in the testing process.

12. Staffing and Training Needs

• Requirements for staffing and any specific training needed for the testing team.

13. Schedule

• Detailed timeline for all testing activities, including start and end dates for test preparation, execution, and evaluation phases.

14. Risks and Contingencies

• Identification of potential risks to the testing schedule or quality and plans for mitigating these risks.

15. Approval

• Signatures of the project manager, test manager, and other key stakeholders indicating approval of the test plan.

This test plan example outlines the comprehensive approach and details required to ensure that the testing phase is well-organized, efficient, and effective in identifying defects and ensuring the web application meets its specified requirements and quality standards.

What's The Difference?