Tasks of the test leader and tester

Tasks of the test leader and tester

Test leader tasks may include:

Ø   Coordinate the test strategy and plan with project managers and others.

Ø   Write or review a test strategy for the project, and test policy for the organization.

Ø  Contribute the testing perspective to other project activities, such as integration planning.

Ø  Plan the tests – considering the context and understanding the test objectives and risks –including selecting test approaches, estimating the time, effort and cost of testing, acquiring resources, defining test levels, cycles, and planning incident management.

Ø  Initiate the specification, preparation, implementation and execution of tests, monitor the test results and check the exit criteria.

Ø  Adapt planning based on test results and progress (sometimes documented in status reports) and take any action necessary to compensate for problems.

Ø  Set up adequate configuration management of testware for traceability.

Ø  Introduce suitable metrics for measuring test progress and evaluating the quality of the testing and the product.

Ø  Decide what should be automated, to what degree, and how.

Ø  Select tools to support testing and organize any training in tool use for testers.

Ø  Decide about the implementation of the test environment.

Ø  Write test summary reports based on the information gathered during testing.

Tester tasks may include:

Ø  Review and contribute to test plans.

Ø  Analyze, review and assess user requirements, specifications and models for testability.

Ø  Create test specifications.

Ø  Set up the test environment (often coordinating with system administration and network management).

Ø  Prepare and acquire test data.

Ø  Implement tests on all test levels, execute and log the tests, evaluate the results and document the deviations from expected results.

Ø  Use test administration or management tools and test monitoring tools as required.

Ø  Automate tests (may be supported by a developer or a test automation expert).

Ø  Measure performance of components and systems (if applicable).

Ø  Review tests developed by others.