Artifact:  Test Plan

Test Plan	The test plan contains information about the purpose and goals of testing within the project. Additionally, the test plan identifies the strategies to be used to implement and execute testing and resources needed.
Role:	Test Designer
Template:	Word Template HTML Template
Examples:	Test Plan, from the Course Registration System Elaboration Construction Test Plan, from the Collegiate Sports Paging System (e-Business)
More information:	Guidelines:Test Plan Checkpoints:Test Plan
Purpose Brief Outline Timing Responsibility Tailoring Annotated Outline (hyperlinks into HTML template in a new window)

Input to Activities: Design Test Evaluate Test Assess Iteration Develop Quality Assurance Plan Iteration Evaluation Criteria Review

Output from Activities: Plan Test

Purpose

The purpose of the Test Plan is to communicate the intent of the testing activities and the following people use it:

• The End User Representative to verify that the appropriate test strategies are recommended, reflecting the use of the system or application as it is intended to be used
• The Customer and Stakeholder to verify that the requirements for test are acceptable and prioritized appropriately. Additionally, the customer should verify the test strategy and test coverage.
• The System Integrator and Implementer to verify that the requirements for test and test strategy are consistent with the implementation and development plans.
• The Test Designer as input to the test design activity.

Brief Outline

(hyperlinks into HTML template in a new window)

1.       Introduction        

    1.1     Purpose    

    1.2     Background    

    1.3     Scope    

    1.4     Project Identification    

2.       Requirements for Test

3.       Test Strategy        

    3.1     Testing Types    

        3.1.1         Data and Database Integrity Testing          

        3.1.2         Function Testing          

        3.1.3         Business Cycle Testing          

        3.1.4         User Interface Testing          

        3.1.5         Performance Profiling          

        3.1.6         Load Testing          

        3.1.7         Stress Testing          

        3.1.8         Volume Testing          

        3.1.9         Security and Access Control Testing          

        3.1.10         Failover and Recovery Testing          

        3.1.11         Configuration Testing          

        3.1.12         Installation Testing          

    3.2     Tools    

4.       Resources

    4.1     Roles    

    4.2     System    

5.       Project Milestones    

6.       Deliverables        

    6.1     Test Model    

    6.2     Test Logs    

    6.3     Defect Reports    

7.       Appendix A: Project Tasks

Timing

The initial Test Plan is created at the outset of the project, referred to as the "Master Test Plan". As each iteration is planned, one or more precise "Iteration Test Plans" are created containing more precise data pertaining to the specified iteration. All of the Test Plans' contents are based upon the Test Plan Templates. See the section Tailoring below.

Responsibility

A Test Designer is responsible for the integrity of the Test Plan, ensuring that:

• The Test Plan accurately reflects the contents of the iteration.
• The Test Plan contains the appropriate content and detail necessary to meet or achieve certification or approval.

The Test Designer uses the contents of the Test Plan to produce the following related artifacts:

• Test Procedures
• Test Cases
• Test Model
• Test Scripts

Tailoring

The Test Plan (contents and format) may require modification to meet the needs of internal or external standards, guidelines, or oversight. Start with the Test Plan template included with the Rational Unified Process™ and add, modify, or remove content as needed.

The "Master Test Plan," created at the outset of the project may only provide an overview of the total test effort planned. The test plans created during each iteration should contain more precise information related to the specific requirements for test, test strategies, resources, and so forth that relate to the specified iteration. 

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