Creating Test Strategies Teams Will Read
Thomas Shipley - @tomdrivendev
Hi, I’m Thomas 😀
<-- sometimes tweet @tomdrivendev
A Tale of Two Extremes
Extreme No. 1
Extreme No. 2
No one reads 100 pages
Test Types
Scope & Objectives
Tools
Team Roles
Environments
Review Process
Deliverables
Exploratory Test Process
Successful Strategy is more than a Checklist
Risks
Defect Reporting
Metrics
Pass / Fail Conditions
Budget
Be a Test Strategy Template Consumer Architect
Warm Up Questions
The Best Type of Test Strategy?
One that is read.
The Best Test Strategy Template?
Does not exist.
Why Does it Not Exist?
Because projects are unique.
Teams Read When You
Understand your Context
Understand your Reader
Architect your own Strategy
Best Practice + Context
= Relevance
Understanding Strategy
What is a (Test) Strategy?
Diagnosis
Explain the challenge
Guiding Policy
The approach for addressing the challenge
Actions
Steps needed to complete the challenge
(Test) Strategy
Surmounting a key challenge
5 W’s and 1 How (and answering just How)
Who
What
When
Where
Why
How
How
How is testing technically done? (Tools, frameworks)
How is testing reported on?
Trying Again: Answering Who
Who
Whose team(s) does this strategy cover?
Who is testing? (hint: all of you)
How
How is testing technically done? (Tools, frameworks)
How is testing reported on?
What
When
Where
Why
Trying Again: Answering What
Who
Who’s team(s) does this strategy cover?
Who is testing? (hint: all of you)
What
What project?�What testing requirements?
How
How is testing technically done? (Tools, frameworks)
How is testing reported on?
When
Where
Why
Trying Again: Answering When
Who
Who’s team(s) does this strategy cover?
Who is testing? (hint: all of you)
What
What project?�What testing requirements?
When
When is testing required?
How
How is testing technically done? (Tools, frameworks)
How is testing reported on?
Where
Why
Trying Again: Answering Where
Who
Who’s team(s) does this strategy cover?
Who is testing? (hint: all of you)
What
What project?�What testing requirements?
When
When is testing required?
Where
Where will tests execute? Locally, static test env, dynamic test env?
How
How is testing technically done? (Tools, frameworks)
How is testing reported on?
Why
Trying Again: Answering Why
Who
Who’s team(s) does this strategy cover?
Who is testing? (hint: all of you)
What
What project?�What testing requirements?
When
When is testing required?
Where
Where will tests execute? Locally, static test env, dynamic test env?
Why
Why are certain test types more important than others?
(Risk...)
How
How is testing technically done? (Tools, frameworks)
How is testing reported on?
Understand your Context
Project Risk
Project Detail
Regulation
Context
Project Risks
Identify
What are the actual risks on your project?
Focus
Tailor your strategy to focus on these risks.
Mitigate
Establish actions to mitigate the risk.
Project Detail
Business
Value
What is the business case for this project?
How can that impact testing budget?
Requirement
How
What features are critical to the business case?
How can we test those features?
Technical
Implementation
Which technologies are we using?
How will that technology impact testing?
Regulation
None
Internal
External
Formality, Required Evidence & Sign Off
Architectural Freedom
Understand your Reader
Types of Reader
T
Your team
Regulators
Related Teams
Internal Stakeholders
Detail
Formality
Architect your own Strategy
Strategy Tone
Formality
Strategy Information Styles
Behavioural
Trust
Describe team behaviours and foundations of decision making.
Implementation
Clarity
Define how testing is done and technology used. Remove ambiguity.
Metrics
Proof
Track testing efforts over time. Make it easy to prove success.
Behavioural Style
Set boundaries. Trust others to make good decisions.
But should you always trust?
Advantages
Disadvantages
Example Use Case
Implementation Style
Clarity at the cost of creativity?
Advantages
Disadvantages
Example Use Case
Metrics Style
Beware Surrogation!
Advantages
Disadvantages
Example Use Case
You can Pick n’ Mix Information Styles!
Presentation Styles
Single Document
Team Focus
Everything in one easily shareable document.
Multiple Documents
Organisation Focus
Collection of documents - each tailored to the different type of reader.
Templates
Standardisation
Make it easy to share ideas, concepts and progress.
You can Pick n’ Mix Presentation Styles!
Lessons Learnt
How to Stop Teams Reading
With six easy tactics!
How to Make Teams Read Again
And keep them involved.
Wrapping Up
A good test strategy is like a good diet.
Balanced.
Questions?�
@tomdrivendev
https://tomdriven.dev