Traceability between the Test Basis and Test Work Products

Traceability in the Test Basis and Test Work Products is a key aspect of software testing. The Test Basis is the set of documents and information used to create the test cases and test scripts. The Test Work Products are the test cases, test scripts, test reports, and other documents produced during the testing process.

The purpose of traceability is to ensure a clear link between the requirements specified in the Test Basis and the test cases and scripts created in the Test Work Products. Traceability helps ensure that all requirements have been tested and all defects have been resolved. It also helps identify gaps in testing and verify that testing has been done comprehensively.

To establish traceability, the requirements in the Test Basis document are mapped to the test cases and test scripts in the Test Work Products. This mapping ensures that each condition is tested and that each test case is based on a requirement. The mapping can be done manually or through the use of automated tools.

During the testing process, the results of each test case are recorded in a Test Log, which is a Test Work Product. If a defect is found during testing, a Defect Report is created, which includes the test case that identified the defect. This helps to ensure that all faults are tracked back to the requirement they relate to, enabling developers to fix the defects and test the fix before release.

Traceability is an important aspect of software testing, as it helps to ensure that all requirements have been tested, all defects have been resolved, and that the testing process has been done comprehensively.

Traceability is a key aspect of effective test monitoring and control, as it helps establish and maintain links between different elements of the test process. By tracking the relationships between the test basis and various test work products, organizations can better analyze the impact of changes, make testing auditable, and meet IT governance criteria. Additionally, good traceability enhances the understandability of test progress reports and test summary reports by including the status of elements of the test basis, such as requirements that passed or failed their tests.

Relating the technical aspects of testing to stakeholders in terms that they can understand is another benefit of traceability. It helps to provide stakeholders with the information they need to assess product quality, process capability, and project progress against business goals.

Some test management tools provide models for organizing and tracking test work products, while others rely on custom-built management systems. Ultimately, the important thing is to establish and maintain traceability throughout the test process to support effective test monitoring and control.

Traceability Matrix:

This traceability matrix shows how each test case and script relates to a specific requirement or design element. It also shows which defects were found during testing and which test cases and scenarios were impacted. This information can be used to determine whether the requirements have been adequately tested, which requirements have defects, and which tests need to be re-run to verify fixes. It also provides a comprehensive view of the testing progress and status.