Test Strategy and Test Approach

Test strategy and test approach are two important components of software testing that are often used interchangeably but are actually different concepts.

Test strategy

Test strategy is a high-level document that outlines the overall testing approach for a project. It defines the testing objectives, scope, deliverables, test environment, team roles and responsibilities, and the overall test schedule. The test strategy is created during the project's planning phase and is reviewed and updated throughout the project life cycle. It helps ensure that all stakeholders have a common understanding of the testing approach and objectives.


Test approach

The test approach is a detailed plan that outlines how testing will be executed for a specific software release or iteration.


It defines the specific testing techniques, tools, and methods that will be used to verify the software and the timelines, milestones, and deliverables for testing. The test approach is a subset of the test strategy and is created during the project's design phase.


Conclusion:

In summary, a test strategy is a higher-level plan that sets the framework for testing. In contrast, a test approach is a more detailed plan that outlines how testing will be executed for a specific release or iteration. Both are essential components of software testing and are critical to the success of any software development project.

Let's take a real time example-

Once upon a time, a software development team was tasked with creating a new e-commerce website for a retail company. The team knew that testing was a critical component of the project and decided to make a test strategy and test approach to ensure that the testing was effective and efficient.

The team first created a test strategy outlining the overall testing objectives, scope, deliverables, test environment, roles and responsibilities, and the overall test schedule. The test strategy also included the testing types and levels that would be used, such as functional, integration, and performance testing. The team regularly reviewed and updated the test strategy throughout the project to ensure it remained relevant and aligned with the project objectives.

Next, the team created a test approach for each software release or iteration. The test approach defined the specific testing techniques, tools, and methods used to verify the software and the timelines, milestones, and deliverables for testing. For example, the team decided to use automated testing tools for functional testing and load testing, while manual testing would be used for exploratory testing and usability testing.

During the testing phase, the team followed the test approach to conduct testing activities, including creating test cases, executing tests, logging defects, and retesting. They also used the test approach to track progress and report on testing status to stakeholders, such as the project manager and the customer.

The test strategy and approach were extremely useful for the software development team. The test strategy helped ensure that everyone had a common understanding of the testing objectives and approach. In contrast, the test approach provided a detailed plan for how testing would be executed for each software release. This helped the team stay organized and focused, resulting in high-quality software that met the customer's requirements.