Test management: basics, methods and best practices

What is test management and why is it important?

Test management involves a lot of tasks: Test planning, monitoring test execution and documenting test activities including test results. A test manager is responsible for an efficient test process, as this helps to detect errors at an early stage and ensure that the software requirements are met. The coordination of the various test activities and the testing itself are crucial to keeping the quality of the software high and controlling development costs.

Well-structured test management also brings you greater efficiency and better teamwork because everyone knows exactly what needs to be done. For example, a clear test plan coordinated with the project management ensures that developers and testers work in sync, avoiding misunderstandings and reducing unnecessary work steps. This allows everyone involved to complete their tasks more efficiently. This ensures a more punctual, faster delivery and better quality of the software, which is a great benefit for everyone involved – from the developer to the customer.

Test planning and test strategy: cornerstones of the test process

Test planning is at the heart of test management because it determines the entire quality assurance process. Without thorough planning, important aspects can be overlooked, which can lead to delays, increased costs and poorer software quality. It defines the project objectives for testing, the testing strategy and the resources required to make the entire testing process efficient. The test strategy defines the methods used to ensure software quality and helps to minimize risks.

A well-structured test plan includes the test techniques for determining the test cases, test environments and the tools to be used. Test planning also involves scheduling, test data and the distribution of roles in the team. Clear and complete test planning ensures that potential risks are identified at an early stage and appropriate measures are taken. It is also particularly important to involve stakeholders at an early stage so that all requirements are taken into account and the test objectives match the project.

Test execution and test documentation

Test execution is initiated by the test manager and follows on from test planning. The aim here is to actually apply the planned test cases and monitor the test execution. Test execution serves to find errors and ensure that the product meets the requirements. Test documentation is an important part of this. It ensures that the test results are repeatable and that the test activities are recorded in a comprehensible manner. This creates transparency and is the basis for quality assurance.

Good test documentation also makes it easier to make adjustments and optimize the quality of the project. It ensures that everyone – from developers to management – is aware of the quality assurance status at all times. This makes it easier to keep everyone involved on the same level of knowledge through open communication. Solid test documentation also helps you to learn from past projects and derive best practices for future tests.

Monitoring and evaluation of test results

Monitoring test results is one of the tasks that run continuously throughout the entire test process. Tools such as ALM, TestRail, Jira and Zephyr, for example, are helpful in maintaining an overview and effectively monitoring test results. They make it easy to track progress and analyze test results in real time. Test management tools can be used to keep an eye on the progress, efficiency and costs of tests. The evaluation of the test results ensures that the project goals are achieved, and that the software meets all quality requirements. KPIs in test management are helpful for effectively controlling quality assurance and identifying opportunities for improvement.

A regular review of the test results helps to adapt the test strategy and ensure that all requirements are covered. This also includes error management: errors that are discovered during the tests must be analyzed and rectified. Monitoring the test results also helps you to recognize patterns and identify weaknesses in the development process that can be improved in future projects.

Good monitoring also ensures that the progress of the testing process can be communicated transparently and that all those involved are aware of the current status. Communication between project stakeholders and testers during testing is crucial to ensure that all relevant information is available in good time and that potential obstacles can be eliminated at an early stage.

Methods and approaches in test management

Test management comprises various methods and approaches that are used depending on the project and requirements. A good understanding of these methods helps you to choose the right approach for your project and to design the test process efficiently. Both classic approaches and agile methods have their advantages and can be applied depending on the project situation to achieve the best results.

Classic vs. agile test management

In classic test management, responsibility lies with the test manager and the focus is on detailed planning and a fixed structure. The entire test process is clearly defined, which is particularly helpful in large projects to keep risks under control. Agile test management is characterized by the fact that the tasks of test management are transferred to the entire team. The tasks are distributed flexibly and can be adapted quickly if necessary. Tests are carried out iteratively so that the team receives direct feedback and can react more quickly to changes.

Both approaches have their strengths: agile test management scores points for its adaptability, while classic test management offers stability and clear processes. In the classic approach, tests are often only carried out after certain development phases have been completed, whereas in the agile approach, tests are carried out in parallel with development, which means that errors are detected more quickly. Agile methods also promote collaboration between testers and developers, which increases the efficiency and quality of the software. Traditional test management is particularly helpful when precise requirements and stable planning are needed. A mixture of both approaches can also be useful, depending on what your project requires.

Automation: increasing efficiency in the testing process

The automation of tests plays a central role when it comes to making the testing process more efficient. Automated tests are particularly helpful for repeatable and time-consuming tests, which can be carried out more quickly and reliably as a result. Especially in agile test management, automation is an important means of being able to react quickly to changes and ensure the quality of the software by means of additional regression tests. Automation can also increase test coverage, as more test cases can be carried out in less time.

Automation is particularly indispensable for regression tests: regression tests ensure that possible negative effects on existing functions after changes to the software product are detected at an early stage. Regression tests can be carried out much more frequently thanks to automation. Tools such as Selenium or JUnit help to automate many test steps, which greatly improves the efficiency of the entire process. It is important to decide which tests should be automated – the degree of repetition, the stability of the functions to be tested and the automation effort play a major role here.

Tools and software solutions for successful test management

Test management tools are indispensable for efficiently organizing and monitoring the test process. They help to maintain an overview of all test activities, manage test cases and systematically document test results. Functions such as integration with other tools, the automation of test tasks (progress monitoring and control) and the creation of reports make them particularly valuable for successful test management. These tools support the planning, execution and documentation of tests and offer options for automating test activities.

Popular tools such as Jira, TestRail or HP ALM help you to plan tests, manage test cases and track the results. The choice of the right tool always depends on the specific requirements of your project. A good test management tool should be flexible, user-friendly and capable of supporting complex test processes. Many tools also enable integration with other software development tools, which facilitates collaboration between the various teams – a big plus point, especially in an agile environment. 

A good test management tool also provides detailed reports that can be used to measure and analyze the progress of the test process. Automation options in these tools make it easier to monitor the execution of large test suites and optimize quality assurance. Some tools (or a tool suite) even offer test data management and defect tracking capabilities, making the entire testing process even more efficient.

The test manager plays a key role here by coordinating communication between the testers and stakeholders, organizing test runs and creating test scenarios. An experienced test manager uses these tools to ensure efficiency and quality throughout the entire test process.

Conclusion: Test management as the key to software quality

Well-organized test management is the key to high software quality and efficient project implementation. From planning and monitoring the test execution to evaluating the results – test management ensures that errors are minimized and the functionality of the software is guaranteed. The choice between classic and agile approaches and the use of automation and tools depends on the requirements of your project but can have a major impact on its success. A well-thought-out testing process not only guarantees high software quality, but also reduces long-term maintenance costs and ultimately increases customer satisfaction.

In summary, test management helps you to ensure that all requirements are fully tested, and that the software as a whole meets the quality requirements: Test management ensures the fulfillment of all test objectives in the project such as fully testing requirements, finding important (critical, expensive, life-threatening) defects, generating information, creating confidence and reducing product risks. In addition, good test management not only contributes to quality assurance, but also improves team collaboration and enables better planning and predictability in the project. It provides you with a solid foundation to achieve your project goals and deliver software of the highest quality.

Frequently asked questions: Test management in software testing