The test plan
David C. Yen, William S. Davis · 2019
The ultimate objective of testing is to ensure that the system performs as designed and, by extension, to ensure that it meets the user’s needs. More specifically, testing is the process of exercising the system and its components to locate, investigate, and correct errors and bugs. A complete test plan incorporates testing strategies, testing procedures, test data, and a testing schedule. The test schedule defines the order in which key tests are performed. Gantt charts and project networks are useful planning and project management tools. Manual procedures, auditing procedures, and security procedures are easily overlooked when the test plan is created. Library control procedures are used to create and maintain a test data library and the relevant testing software. Scaffolding is generally used to simulate the system environment or to initiate a calling sequence to trigger the execution of selected modules in the proper order. Unit testing is typically performed at the developer’s site by the responsible programmers.