A Test Manager can ensure effective test control only if a testing schedule and a monitoring framework are in place so that test work products as well as available resources may be mapped against the plan. Test Manager must be able to monitor test progress accurately and efficiently.

What is Test Monitoring?

The test monitoring framework must consist of exhaustive steps and specific targets required to correlate the current status of test work products and tasks to the planned and strategic objectives.

• Comparing the current status of test work products and tasks, against the plan and strategic objectives is simpler for projects that are small or less complex.
• However, for other projects a more detailed objective must be defined to accomplish this.
• Targets and measures that are needed to achieve the objectives of the test and test basis coverage can be included in this.

It is very important to map the test basis to the status of activities and test related work products, in a way that is easy to understand, logical and apt for the business stakeholders as well as the project.

This can be achieved by clearly outlining the test goals and assessing progress against predefined set of test conditions by mapping work products related to testing with test basis through test conditions.

As you can recognize, a complex correlation exists between work products of the testing and those of development and test basis.

This complexity can be reduced by correctly structuring traceability and incorporating the capability to report accurately on the status of traceability in the design.

Many times the business stakeholders require you to monitor measures and targets that are not directly related to a system process or specification.

This can occur especially when formal documentation is not available. For instance, a design requirement is detailed in terms of system processes but the stakeholder wants you to include analysis of operational business cycle in your test scope.

Closely associating with business stakeholders in the initial stages of project can help you in

• Identifying the measures and targets correctly
• Ensuring better control during the test phase
• Influencing testing activities during the whole process

For example, accurate monitoring of test progress can be easily done if test designs and implementation work products have been structured on the basis of stakeholder targets and measures. These targets also enable you to deliver traceability for single or multiple test levels.

What is Test Control?

Test control must be a continuous exercise. It includes comparison of actual test progress versus planned progress and taking remedial actions if required.

In simple terms, test control refers to controlling the testing process in order to meet the goal of the project like achieving a target percentage for test coverage or completing testing on a specific date etc.

• It manages the testing process to accomplish defined objectives, strategies and overall goal.
• In the process, you may need to revisit the test planning activities and modify them suitably.
• Some of the possible actions that can be taken to control the testing process and bring it back on track could be – addition of extra resources, reducing the scope of the release, splitting the release into multiple releases etc.
• The action that needs to be taken to control the test process will depend on a number of factors like stakeholders, development lifecycle, budget, project complexity etc.

Data provided by test control can be handled correctly only if a comprehensive planning information is available.

What should be included in test planning document and test control activities is discussed in detail under Test Management.

You can also review Test Monitoring and Test Control from the ISQTB Foundation Level exam perspective.

In the next topic we will discuss Test Condition & Test Analysis

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• What are the roles and responsibilities of a Test Leader?
• What is Test Planning? What are Work Products in Testing?
• What is test status report? and How to report test status?