Testing Schedule, Making Use of Resources Effectively

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There are three difficult steps in testing:

1. How to get testing started effectively
2. How to solve defects effectively
3. Finalizing testing. Readiness 85%->100%

In this article, we focus on points 1 and 3.

When you make everyone work effectively, you can keep the right resources testing. If testers find themselves unused and then have to wait around, abracadabra – they have vanished. Fixing a bad start takes a lot of effort.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514040267846{margin-top: -150px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-image: url(https://vip.projecttop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laptop-bg.png?id=1533) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”Now we create testing schedule for the example plan, ergo a plan about what to do and when.” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1524552990953{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4″ width=”1/2″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389199656{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 70px !important;}”]

Starting point:

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Note: Calendar invites for the business should be made at least one month in advance, otherwise all other activities will start to fill up people’s calendars. This of course means that the planning needs to start early on as well.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#f1f1f1″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1515065916857{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #a3d630 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5″ width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”Kick off” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1524556491355{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1515066020354{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]Going through acceptance testing on schedule, and with sterling quality, is vital for the success of business critical projects. The kick-off -event is a good place to sell your plan to the people taking part in acceptance testing. If the sale is not done, several things might happen:

• The value of your calendar invites crashes down. Everything else overrides the testing invites and eventually testers won’t arrive for testing.
• Testing and logging of observations is not systematic. Reporting and management gets more difficult.
• Testers and vendors are not committed to your plan.

Even though everyone is always busy, it’s important to find time for communication.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ class=”green-right-bg” full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Smoke testing” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1524553025274{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389272791{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]

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[vc_single_image image=”2777″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#f1f1f1″ top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2778″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3″ column_center=”true” width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Testing days” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1524553057782{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1515741241009{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]The most effective days for testing are usually Tuesday, Thursday and Friday before lunch.

• On Monday, there’s usually a lot to do for the business to start the week.
• On Wednesday fixes are usually made, so there’s something to test on Thursday.
• On Friday afternoon people’s minds start to wander.

Be ready early on, so you can get the days you want. Keep in mind there are a lot of other important things going on in the business besides testing.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#a3d630″ text_color=”light” full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1515065916857{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #a3d630 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-5″ text_color=”light” width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”Week 1: The beginning is always the hardest” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23ffffff” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1524553106783{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1515066020354{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]To get the testing effectively going, there needs to be a strong start:

• Clear work lists, so that everyone knows what they are doing.
• Clear instructions, so that everyone knows how to test and log observations.
• Strong support from testing, so that testing is done right.
• Strong ability to react, so that the problems can be solved.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row bg_color=”#f1f1f1″ top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Week 2 and 3: Keep on going ahead with the testing” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1524556004262{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389272791{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]Make sure that every tester is working effectively. When things seem to go well, don’t let it fool you. Make sure fixing and retesting are working effectively as well.

“Important: Make sure the testing manager has enough time for managing. This means no extra meetings, because managing testing should be made a priority.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″]

[vc_single_image image=”2781″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”full_width_section” bg_color=”#f1f1f1″ top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514040240954{margin-top: -150px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-image: url(https://vip.projecttop.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/laptop-bg2.png?id=1541) !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3″ width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2781″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-3″ width=”1/2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Final week: Finish testing” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1524556025544{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389379477{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-right: 70px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;padding-left: 70px !important;}”]Finishing every last test takes huge effort from the project manager. How to fix correct defects, so that the tests can be properly finished? It’s like solving a giant puzzle.

Because this is something we know, room should be made for the final spurt, when planning the testing schedule. If you look closely at the picture below, there are one or two days left to spare.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row top_padding=”50″ bottom_padding=”50″ full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” equal_height=”yes” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1514039179081{margin-top: -50px !important;margin-bottom: 50px !important;background-color: #f1f1f1 !important;background-position: center !important;background-repeat: no-repeat !important;background-size: cover !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”Things missing from the example” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1524556071139{margin-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1517389437365{padding-right: 50px !important;padding-left: 50px !important;}”]I simplified the example, so that the idea would stand out better. When you are planning a testing phase, take note of other things going on as well. Communicate and negotiate.

• Others make plans too and want the best resources.
• Training, introductions, planning implementation and acceptance testing are usually going on at the same time. Make sure resource plans don’t conflict with testing.
• Make sure there aren’t any major events coming up in the business. They will most likely surpass testing.
• Vacations, leave of absence etc. For example, if there are several people absent from the same department, your resource might have to fill in for them.

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