Test Planning Services

Testmasters, Inc. offers test planning services necessary for a successful test project. For every project, there is a collection of processes that enable an organization to cost-effectively attain the required and optimal risk mitigation.  One solution does not fit every organization. Testmasters, Inc. consultants utilize proven disciplines and practices that produce complete and effective test plans.

There are minimum and optimum approaches that can be selected to competently test the changes to be applied. Providing these boundaries and selecting the appropriate approach will make the difference between success and failure.

Testmasters, Inc.’s test planning methodology revolves around both strategic and tactical test planning processes:

Strategic Test Plan defined as Master Test Plan (MTP)

Definition and documentation of project wide strategic elements essential to the quality assurance processes to be employed. The MTP provides an overall roadmap of all the testing activities to be performed on the project.

System specific System Test Plans (STPs)

The detail test plans and documentation provide the essential direction to mitigating the risks associated with implementing change.

The specific process employed to determine the optimal approach is directly associated with the strategic risk analysis performed as a part of developing the Master Test Plan or High Level Test Strategy. The risk analysis identifies exposures and directs corresponding test strategies that will best mitigate that exposure. High-risk systems with high consequence of error and minimal detection/recovery time, may mandate the use of exhaustive test techniques. Other high-risk systems that afford early error detection and significant recovery time may require less comprehensive testing strategies that decrease the testing timeline.

When appropriate, our consultants may utilize a Facilitated Test Planning Process (FTPS). We use techniques borrowed from the Joint Application Development (JAD) model to facilitate strategic planning sessions. Experienced facilitators, armed with agendas, checklists, and worksheets, walk key project team members through a step-by-step development of the Master Test Plan. The structured approach used by Testmasters, Inc.’s consultants ensures that all steps are accounted for and all points important to a successful test effort are included in the deliverables. The final deliverable from the FTPS sessions is an enterprise wide strategic test plan.

Given the pervasive nature of change requirements, enterprise strategies will be essential to reducing renovation and testing expenses. Effective communication will be required to meet the demands of enterprise-wide developments of this nature and planning is key to effective communication. The critical strategies and plans created from the FTP sessions arm the clients’ staff with the critical information that will enable their success.

The Testmasters, Inc. Facilitated Test Planning Session is designed to develop an enterprise-wide plan within 30 days. TESTMASTERS, INC.’ consultants have the project planning experience, methodology and tools to organize and lead planning sessions with an organization's senior project planners to produce a comprehensive Master Test Plan, jump starting the enterprise's testing efforts.

Testmasters, Inc. consultants assist our clients in formulating tactical test plans. These are phase specific plans that define the means by which the test strategy is achieved. Tactical Test plans provide explicit definition of the testing methods and techniques to be employed to mitigate the risks defined in the Master Test Plan.

Testmasters, Inc. consultants can accelerate the project development effort through their experienced input of critical planning information.

Testmasters, Inc.'s test specialists review the client's product scope, the critical risk factors, application structures, and quality assurance requirements to determine the best strategies for tackling the verification of the enterprise’s systems.

The Testmasters, Inc. philosophy is that the business risks associated with the applications under change should play a driving force in the selection of the test strategies to be employed to mitigate risk. For this reason, a significant aspect of the strategic planning process involves risk assessment.

Our consultants are familiar with the various industry standards such as IEEE, SEI, etc. We recognize the benefits of these processes and disciplines as essential to improving overall software quality to your customers. We also recognize the overhead and encumbrances that can be associated with the full extension of these disciplines. We have formulated strategies and techniques that provide the fundamental attributes to structured testing yet minimize the drain on time and resources. Your organization may have vested interest in certification by these third parties to open new market opportunities.

Testmasters, Inc. can help you achieve your testing effort goals efficiently and cost-effectively while maintaining the utmost in adherence to quality standards.

View another Service: Test Staff Augmentation; Test Project Management & Support; Independent Verification & Validation