Test Strategy and test plan. What is the difference?

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Test Strategy and test plan. What is the difference?

05.07.2023
Posted by: Admin

Test Strategy

Test strategy is a set of basic principles that define test development and determine how the software testing process will be executed. A test strategy aims to provide a systematic approach to the testing process for quality, traceability, reliability, and better planning.

Test Plan

A test plan is a detailed document that describes the testing strategy, goals, schedule, evaluation, results, and resources required to test a software product. The test plan helps determine the approaches needed to check the quality of the tested program.

A test plan is an important document. It helps keep the team working in a coordinated manner. It serves as a reference point and ensures that the final product has no bugs and meets the expected requirements. The document also helps everyone outside the team understand the testing process. One of the important aspects of test plans is that they can be constantly changed and differ depending on the product.

The difference between a test strategy and a test plan

Parameter	Test strategy	Test plan
Definition	A test strategy is a high-level document that contains guidelines and principles related to the test process.	A test plan is a document that includes the coverage and various activities involved in the test process.
Objective	The main objective is to define the principles that should be followed during the testing process.	The main objective is to determine how to test the product, what to test, when to test, who will test, and who will verify the results.
Purpose	It is an action plan for the testing process on a long-term basis.	It is created to identify possible discrepancies in the final product and mitigate them through the testing process.
Level	Used at the organizational level.	Used in one project and is rarely repeated.
Repeatability	Used in many projects and can be repeated many times.	Used in one project and is rarely repeated.
Possibility to make changes	Static document. Changes are rarely made.	Dynamic document and can be modified many times depending on the test specifications.
Components	Includes: goals and scope, documentation, test processes, etc.	Includes: test plan ID, tested functions, methods to be followed, tasks, test start and end criteria, schedules, etc.
Person in charge	Project manager.	Test manager or test lead
Application area	Focuses only on high-level testing methods and strategies.	Defines all testing activities in detail.
Sources	Comes from the business requirements document.	Created using use cases, requirements documents, and product description documents.
Existence	In some cases, it may be part of a test plan. Exists separately.	Exists separately.
Basis	Based on standards that have been previously defined.	Based on test strategies.
Types	Analytical strategy, Model-based strategy, Methodical strategy, Standard-compliant strategy, Reactive strategy, Consultative strategy, Regression averse strategy.	Level-specific test plans, Type-specific test plans, and Master test plans.
Influence	Affects many projects at the same time.	Affects only one project at a time.
Description	Describes approaches to testing.	Describes general specifications for testing a specific project.

Key differences

The test plan is a document that describes all the work to be done by the testing team on a project. It includes risks, a list of required resources, a schedule, and a description of various testing processes, while the test strategy describes how testing should be performed.
The test plan is used at the project level, while the test strategy is used at the organization level.
The main purpose of the test plan is a description of how to test, when to test, and who will test, while the test strategy focuses on what techniques should be followed and which module to test.
The test plan is a dynamic document, while the test strategy is fixed.
The test plan is created by the test manager, and the test strategy is created by the project manager.

To summarize, both documents are an inseparable and equally important part of any project. If properly executed, the testing process will result in a product of the highest quality. However, if some steps are skipped, there is a chance that the final product may still have bugs.

Also, keep in mind that there is no universal document that can be used as a model and applied to all types of projects.

Test Strategy and test plan. What is the difference?