Test management is the process of tracking test cases, executing and documenting tests. A test management tool is used by QA teams and testers to manage manual or automated tests that were earlier designed by stakeholders or testers(it is usually based on the necessities for a software project).
It allows us to define complex test scenarios and enable teams to test software against multiple configurations(for example, multiple operating system versions). Advanced tools also allow you to track milestones, provide ways to view statistics and view detailed reports of recent test activity.
Key points to check while choosing a Test Management Tool:
a) How well does it adjust to different development processes?
Scaling a test management tool through different parts of the organization needs that tool is able to map to Agile, Waterfall or a combination of Agile and Waterfall. This is mainly because different projects in an association regularly follow different development methodologies. A critical point to look into while assessing tools would be the type of customizations presented in order to use it in different development methodologies. For example, does the tool give you the facility to create custom fields so that you can pick and define values particular to your business processes?
b) How easy is it to implement?
The success of any test management tool depends upon how quickly and easily it can be implemented by different users within the organization. Some of the critical points to calculate here would be the training options available for the ease of use of the tool and to get started. Another point that simplicities implementation is integrations available with other tools which means you won’t waste time developing custom integrations. Some of the most regularly used tools involve open and free source tools such as commercial tools like Jira or SoapUI and Selenium.
c) The type of audit trail it proves
Test cases are often transformed when changes are made to original requirements or with the introduction of new features. Such probable changes need to be tracked in a serial manner as it allows managers to figure out what has altered and revert back changes if needed.
[ Related Read: Salient Tips For Writing Effective Test Cases ]
d) Compatibility with multiple users
One of the main reasons for moving to a test management platform other than Excel is that it lets multiple users work together. However, when multiple users use the tool, challenges arise from the security and tracking viewpoints. For instance, one of the critical things to look for would be whether the test management tool is locking a specific test-case when it is being edited, so that two people can’t edit it at the same time.
e) Cost
Finally and most importantly, as with other tools, the cost of the solution should be checked while going for a test management tool. This includes taking into account not only the upfront amount it costs to buy a tool but also implementation, support and training costs.
A good test management tool should be malleable enough to support multiple project teams, multiple projects and different delivery methodologies in parallel. However, purchasing a tool that will be used by numerous project team members can be awe-inspiring. This article is written to help project teams understand budget restraints, think about future challenges and prioritize their requirements so that they can future proof their test management tool investment.
Critical areas that need to be measured before acquiring a test management tool involve:
- Cost considerations - besides licensing costs, what else do I need to know?
- Product requirements - what specific features do you need?
- Vendor reliability - does the vendor have a track record of success?
- IT requirements - how are we going to handle implementation, migration and deployment?
Test management tool will provide you real-time and complete access over the Internet for the execution and development of your tests. This lets you supervise and view the work being done on your project during every stage from start to finish.
