Software QA Testing Checklists
In this article, we showcase a vital tool often underused and underestimated. We aim to highlight its significance and restore its lost glory. We are speaking of ‘Checklists’.
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Explanation: A Checklist is an inclusive list of tasks or items documented for monitoring. This list can be organized in a particular sequence or appear in a miscellaneous order.
Checklists are a crucial component of our daily routines. We utilize them in various scenarios, like buying groceries or creating a daily to-do list.
Key Takeaways from this piece:
A Brief Look at QA Software Testing Checklists
Usually, on reaching the office, we compile a list of tasks to be accomplished throughout the day or week. Here’s an instance:
- Finalize timesheets
- Finish documentation
- Arrange a conference with the offshore squad at 10:30 am
- Attend a 4 pm meeting and so on.
Once we finish each assignment, we either cross it off the catalog, remove it, or mark it as completed with a tick mark. Doesn’t this sound similar?
Can we utilize checklists beyond everyday operations?
Can we officially adopt checklists in our IT endeavors, specifically in QA, and if possible, how and when? Let’s delve into this.
I am a fervent supporter of utilizing checklists, and here are a few reasons why:
- They are adaptable and can serve any purpose
- They are simple to design, implement, and manage
- Monitoring and assessing progress or task accomplishment is straightforward
- They are flexible, permitting items to be included or excluded as required
As a routine practice, we will explore the “why” and “how” facets of checklists.
- Why do we require checklists? : Checklists assist us in tracking and examining task fulfillment. They verify no tasks are missed out.
- How do we compile checklists? : Crafting checklists is incredibly uncomplicated. Just list out every item or task one after another.
Example Checklists for QA Processes:
As discussed earlier, there exist specific areas in QA where checklists can be resourcefully employed to reap benefits. Today, we will delve into two such areas:
- Test Readiness Review
- Exit Criteria Checklist
#1) Test Readiness Review
Test Readiness Review is a familiar activity conducted by each QA team. It serves to establish whether the team is fully equipped to commence the test execution phase. This review takes place preemptively before each testing round in projects involving numerous rounds.
To curtail issues during the testing phase and avoid rushing into the execution phase, it is recommended that every QA project carry out a review to certify all prerequisites for fruitful testing are met.
A checklist is the apt tool for this job. It lets you create an advanced list of crucial items and carefully evaluate each one. The identical checklist can be reused for subsequent testing rounds as well.
Further Information: Test Readiness Review is usually conducted by a representative from the QA squad. The findings are distributed among project managers and other team participants to signal if the testing team is prepared to advance to the test execution phase.
Here’s an exemplar of a sample Test Readiness Review checklist:
Test Readiness Review (TRR) Criteria |
Status |
All Requirements finalized and analyzed | Done |
Test Plan created and reviewed | Done |
Test Cases preparation done | |
Test Case review and sign off | |
Test Data availability | |
Smoke Testing | |
Is Sanity Testing done? | |
Team aware of the roles and responsibilities | |
Team aware of the deliverables expected of them | |
Team aware of the Communication protocol | |
Team’s access to the application, version control tools, Test Management | |
Team’s trained | |
Technical Aspects- Server1 refreshed or not? | |
Defect reporting standards are defined |
Now, all you are required to do is mark each item on this list as done or not done.
#2) Exit Criteria Checklist
The Exit Criteria Checklist aids in the decision-making process regarding the termination or continuation of a testing phase or cycle.
Since a defect-free product is not always achievable, it is vital to ensure exhaustive testing within the designated time frame. The Exit Criteria Checklist monitors the critical criteria that must be fulfilled to deem a testing phase satisfactory.
Exit Criteria |
Status |
100% Test Scripts executed | Done |
95% pass rate of Test Scripts | |
No open Critical and High severity defects | |
95% of Medium severity defects have been closed | |
All remaining defects are either canceled or documented as Change Requests for a future release | |
All expected and actual results are captured and documented with the test script | Done |
All test metrics are collected based on reports from HP ALM | |
All defects are logged in HP ALM | Done |
Test Closure Memo is completed and signed off |
Testing Checklist
Preparing to kick off a new testing project? Ensure you refer to this Testing Checklist throughout your Project Life Cycle. Its coverage extends to all Quality Assurance and Testing Standards and essentially mirrors a Test plan.
Testing Checklist:
- Create System and Acceptance Tests [ ]
- Initiate Acceptance Test Creation [ ]
- Determine Test team [ ]
- Formulate Workplan [ ]
- Establish Test Approach [ ]
- Link Acceptance Criteria and Requirements to form the foundation of Acceptance Test [ ]
- Extract a subset of system test cases to formulate the requirements portion of Acceptance Test [ ]
- Develop scripts for customer validations of system requirements [ ]
- Formulate a Test timetable, incorporating resource allocation [ ]
- Conduct Acceptance Test [ ]
- Initiate System Test Creation [ ]
- Determine test team participants [ ]
- Formulate Workplan [ ]
- Establish Resource Requirements [ ]
- Identify productivity tools for testing [ ]
- Establish Data Requirements [ ]
- Reach a consensus with Data Center [ ]
- Formulate Test Approach [ ]
- Identify any prerequisites facilities [ ]
- Procure and evaluate existing test material [ ]
- Compile an inventory of test items [ ]
- Recognize Design states, conditions, procedures, and processes [ ]
- Ascertain the need for Code-based (white box) testing and determine conditions [ ]
- Determine all functional requirements [ ]
- Complete inventory formulation [ ]
- Initiate Test Case creation [ ]
- Formulate Test Cases based on the inventory of test items [ ]
- Group test cases into functional clusters and trace them to the test item inventory [ ]
- Design data sets to correspond to test cases [ ]
- Conclude Test Case creation [ ]
- Review business functions, test cases, and data sets with users [ ]
- Secure signoff on test design from Project leader and QA [ ]
- Conclude Test Design [ ]
- Initiate Test Preparation [ ]
- Secure Test Support resources [ ]
- Outline expected outcomes for each test case [ ]
- Secure Test Data and validate it against test cases [ ]
- Prepare detailed Test Scripts for each test case [ ]
- Prepare & Document environmental setup procedures, including backup and recovery plans [ ]
- Conclude Test Preparation phase [ ]
- Conduct System Test [ ]
- Execute Test Scripts [ ]
- Compare the actual outcomes to the anticipated outcomes [ ]
- Document discrepancies and generate problem reports [ ]
- Prepare input for the maintenance phase [ ]
- Re-run tests post problem repairs [ ]
- Genereate a final test report, incorporating a list of identified bugs [ ]
- Secure formal signoff [ ]
Automation Checklist
If you respond affirmatively to any of the following questions, it is worth entertaining the idea of automation for your tests:
Q #1) Can the sequence of test actions be defined?
Response: Is it worthwhile to reproduce a particular sequence of test actions multiple times? Examples branching from acceptance tests, compatibility tests, performance tests, and regression tests.
Q #2) Can the sequence of test actions be automated?
Response: This question aids in determining if automation is a viable choice for the specified sequence of test actions.
Q #3) Can the test be partially automated?
Response: Automating specific parts of a test can notably hasten test execution duration.
Q #4) Does the software behavior adhere consistently with automation?
Response: This is particularly noteworthy in Performance Testing.
Q #6) Do you need to execute the identical tests on multiple hardware configurations?
Response: Ad-hoc tests are best administered manually (Note: Ideally, every bug should have an associated test case. Ad hoc tests should be executed by visualizing real-world scenarios and using the software as a customer would. When bugs surface during ad-hoc testing, novel test cases should be created for easy reproduction and subsequent regression tests during the Zero Bug Build phase.)
An Ad-hoc test is a manual test simulation of real-world software deployment, and it often exposes the maximum number of bugs. It should be emphasized that automation can never fully replace manual testing.
Principal Takeaways:
- The aforementioned examples validate the application of checklists not just to QA processes but also to other domains. These lists can be expanded or condensed, depending upon necessity.
- The items on each list serve as indicators of what might be included and monitored. However, further items can be included or retracted in alignment with specific requirements.
We anticipate that the examples provided have accentuated the vast potential of checklists in QA and IT operations.
So, the upcoming time when you require a basic, semi-formal, and efficient tool, consider using checklists. Oftentimes, the most simplistic solution is the optimal solution.
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