Why Test Plans Fail in the Real World
When testers mention a test plan, many development team members immediately tune out. Historically, a test plan has been a long, complex document created at the beginning of a project alongside technical specifications and other initial project documents. Not exactly a page turner.
Documentation is important. For many organizations, it’s necessary to track progress and project details. And it can even be critical for organizations who must prove regulatory compliance with required standard practices.
Test plans are useful when written in collaboration with developers and other team members. The organization should keep them as a living document until the project or release is in production and accepted by customers. Yet, static test plans all too often devolve into rigid obstacles that can quietly undermine the velocity that teams strive to achieve. While the exact contents will vary by product and business, the plan must be dynamic enough to adapt as the software evolves over time.
This blog explores common reasons test plans fail and practical ways to create an adaptable test plan that supports modern teams as a useful tool.
What is a modern software test plan?
A modern software test plan is an adaptable, living document or task framework that outlines the scope, objective and resource allocation for testing a specific release. The aim is to keep stakeholders aligned through clearly defined timelines, responsibilities and actionable tasks.
The test plan can have a wide variety of definitions depending on the business, industry and its usage. You’ll often see a test plan used to define the whole organization’s QA processes. Or, it might be specific to a feature, project or release. “Test plan” and “test strategy” are frequently used interchangeably — or one might apply to the QA team as a whole while the other is unique to a specific project.
Don’t worry about the definitions, because every organization changes them to meet their needs. Simply create the test plan that works for your team. Keep it short and concise without any fluff or filler. Stick to actionable tasks or steps and add only the necessary details.
Why even bother creating a test plan?
Test plans are valuable tools when they foster communication and discussion between team members. Many collaborative test plans have brought attention to things like missing requirements for new APIs or data definition and database issues. Developers bring a wealth of knowledge on testing. When actively engaged, they can identify testing gaps or defects before coding even starts.
Team members responsible for moving code to production also provide valuable insights. They can help teams understand how to verify functionality in production without affecting customers. In addition, designers, product managers and customer support personnel possess knowledge useful to prioritizing test execution and avoiding repetitive defects.
For the team members responsible for testing, a test plan provides the critical information required to deliver the highest quality product possible. High-quality applications are not only less likely to break; they increase customer loyalty and generate more revenue.
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Designing test plans as tools
Modern software engineers no longer have the luxury of spending a year or more on non-regulated application development. For most organizations, producing customer-ready mobile or web applications takes a matter of months, or even weeks. Agile is often the preferred methodology for rapid software development, but it is light on documentation. So, to be adaptable and effective, a test plan must be a concise and collaborative tool.
Before designing a test plan as a tool, let’s review several reasons many test plans fail:
- Only the testers create and engage with the test plan.
- The test plan isn’t kept current.
- Information is inaccurate or lacks sufficient detail.
- The document is wordy and difficult to read.
- Plans fail to include input from developers, customer implementation personnel or support team members.
If the test plan isn’t an accessible or collaborative tool for the whole team, it won’t be read. And there’s no sense in creating documentation that nobody uses.
What to include in a test plan?
The purpose of a test plan is to define how, when, where, and who is testing what for a specific project or a release. Test plans are useful tools when they clearly define what is tested. For example, on the development team there may be developers assigned to create automated unit or integration tests within the code. A team member responsible for testing may be assigned to manage test automation execution for regression and performance testing. Additionally, there may be a person or group assigned to test security, deployment, data integrity and APIs.
A test plan needs to identify potential risks and any areas that are not directly tested. Test prioritization is an essential practice because testing time is typically short and only gets shorter as development progresses. You want a realistic test plan that focuses on actionable tasks and defines the testing scope. Basically, you are defining and describing a test strategy for the team’s project only. Include only the information the team needs.
Now, a test strategy or test plan may also exist for teams where testing is managed separately. For example, a test director or test manager creates team-based QA processes that define what testing types are executed and using what techniques. These types of team-based processes may add details to what a tester does, such as providing traceability to requirements when developing test cases, listing what tools testers use, or describing how test automation is scripted and executed.
Do not repeat all the QA processes in a team’s test plan. It’ll become too long and be filled with information that’s not useful or applicable to developers or other team members. Keep a test plan focused solely on the team and the project or release in hand. Don’t try to document everything because as the project moves along things change. A test plan is a tool that defines and guides the team for testing. It’s meant to be flexible and will need to be updated as changes are made.
Creating adaptable test plans
The million-dollar question becomes how to create an adaptable test plan as a valuable team tool? Test plan creation is certainly not a walk in the park. You’ll need to decide on the best format that fits the team, keep it current and include all the necessary details that define how the application or project is tested. Remember to include testing for functionality, design elements and deployment. A collaborative test plan requires input from the team. It’s not easy to get team members to review a test plan, but it is crucial for effective testing and as a record.
First, select a format that fits your team and its existing tool set. You can find templates online and customize them or start from scratch. A test plan does not have to be paragraphs of text; it should be readable and focus on actionable tasks. Consider using a task management tool the team already uses. For example, tools like Jira or Trello can help you write a test plan that’s easy to read and accessible.
If you work with external crowdtesting teams for specific testing, be sure to include their tasks within the test plan. Note the team contact and if there is an internal person supporting the effort. One distinct positive of using a crowdtesting team is scheduling testing as needed to monitor the application quality and functionality when used by a wide variety of potential users. Feedback from crowdtesters is unbiased and can be a truer gauge of user experience and quality than any metric.
Aside from creating a test plan composed of detailed tasks, consider using a classic spreadsheet setup with tabs for each team role. Or, create a checklist-type document for easy scannability. Many teams prefer mind maps for test plans. However, mind maps can quickly get complex, so be sure to keep them simple and direct to ensure they are easy to follow.
If you decide on the traditional text document, make it easy to read by using smaller paragraphs, bulleted lists and subheadings to make sections stand out. Teams can also use AI tools to create a test plan. If you choose this option, be sure to plan time to review it and edit as needed. AI tends to use verbose and flowery language which may make actions unclear. You will get a long and wordy document, potentially full of fluff. Careful editing can help improve text and make it more user friendly and useful.
Enriching your test plan with real-world insights
When producing high-quality applications, consider using a crowdtesting team to validate the application under real-world conditions. Customers expect high performance, security and full functionality all day, every day. One of the easiest and most direct ways to get customer feedback is through crowdtesting.
Crowdtesting teams are designed around your specific needs and represent potential users. Teams use real devices of every type and platform, work under different network conditions, and run a variety of operating systems. Let Applause’s extensive community of testers validate that your applications meet all your customers’ needs. Make Applause part of your team’s test plan.
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