Test Reporting

Definition

Test reporting is the task of reporting the results of test execution to the relevant stakeholders.

Objectives

The typical objectives of test reporting are to:

• Report the results to relevant stakeholders so that:
  • Defects can be fixed.
  • Project status can be tracked.
• Regularly summarize the testing results to development and customer management.

Preconditions

Test reporting can typically begin when the following preconditions hold:

• The initiation phase has begun.
• The independent test team is adequately staffed and trained in test planning.
• The execution of tests has begun.

Completion Criteria

Test reporting is typically complete when the following postconditions hold:

• The results of all tests have been delivered to all relevant stakeholders.

Steps

Test reporting typically involves performing the following steps in an iterative, incremental, parallel, and time-boxed manner:

• Document the test results in the test report.
• Distribute the test report to the relevant audience.
• Summarize the test results in the test summary report.
• Distribute the test summary report to the relevant audience.

Techniques

Test reportingcan typically be performed using the following techniques:

• Documentation conventions (e.g., templates, content and format standards, and inspection checklists).
• Publish and subscribe

Work Products

Test reporting typically results in the production of the following work products:

• Test Report
• Test Summary Report

Guidelines

• Where practical, test reports should be automatically generated and distributed by the test tools.