Best Practices for Effective Test Case Reporting
Test Case reports are all about detailed analysis of the test execution process. An effective test case report gives you the idea about the performance of the test case executions, with respect to the various parameters. Some of these parameters are as follows:
- Test Case Parameters
- Test Cases Executed
- Test Cases Passed
- Test Cases failed
- Number of defects
- Number of critical defects
- Predicted test hours
- Actual test hours
- Number of Bugs in the product
Based on the values of the above parameters, which are included in a test report, the QA team as well as the entire team can reflect on the efficiency of the testing process, as well as the improvements required if any.
Best Practices for Writing Effective Test Case Reports
Test case reporting is the responsibility of QA professionals and a well-written test case report can go a long way in helping the team analyze the performance of the test cases. The software test case report is created to reflect the results of the test case execution. The insights can be used to get an idea of the direction of software development process and the improvements that need to be made.
So, how does a QA professional ensure that the test case reporting presents all the required data? There are some pointers that one may follow in order to ensure comprehensive reports every time.
1] Understand the Requirements
The first thing that you should consider for test case reporting is the requirement. Who is going to review the report and draw conclusions from it? What are the requirements of the testing process in the first place? The answers to these questions matter because the answers will help you create a report accordingly. Try to find out what the stakeholders are looking for and make it a point to include all of these points with relevant findings.
2] Highlight What is Done and What is Planned
Every good test report is more than just about data that showcases what was done – it also includes what is planned next. Hence, one of the key test case reporting best practices is to also focus on what’s in the pipeline in the near future. This way, when the stakeholders look at your test report, they will be able to get an idea of what to expect next and also redefine priorities if required.
3] Showcase the Challenges if Any
The testing process will not always be a smooth one, and challenges are a part of the process. However, it is important that your test report talks about the challenges and roadblocks, in addition to what has been accomplished. This is more so in case there are areas where the performance has not been as expected. When you showcase areas where the test execution process could not meet the desired outcome or level of productivity, it is required to talk about the challenges so that they can be overcome.
4] Pay Attention to the Little Details
Before you send in the report, you should always make it a point to go through it once again, to make sure you don’t miss out on the little details that matter. This is a test case reporting best practice that experts suggest. Find time to proofread the test report to check the formatting, look for spelling errors if any, and also if more points need to be added to offer more clarity.
5] Practice More and More
Last but not the least, one of the most recommended test case reporting best practices is to practice, just as it is with any other thing that you do. Always make a conscious effort to learn from your mistakes and also find ways to make the report more detailed and easier to understand. Researching online for good report samples will also help you learn and improve. Always remember to keep the requirements in mind and then practice creating more and more reports to meet the requirements.
Reporting with QARA Enterprise
An advanced test automation tool like QARA Enterprise makes the task of your QA professionals easier through the provision for auto-generated reports. The easy-to-understand, colorful graphical representation provided by QARA Enterprise helps analyze the data effortlessly. Given below is a screenshot of the reporting interface e of QARA Enterprise.
Explore more about the test case reporting capabilities of QARA Enterprise. Read: Understanding Test Reporting with QARA Enterprise
So, that was about some of the most effective test case reporting best practices. Want to witness how the detailed reporting functionality of QARA Enterprise can help your QA team? Visit www.qaratest.com or drop an email on info@qaratest.com and our team will get in touch with you.