(Too) early involvement?

The aim is for the test manager to be involved in the development process as early as possible to create the master test plan. This offers the most ample opportunities to correctly align the total tests. A disadvantage of such early involvement is that the test manager is sometimes involved so early on in the process that it might seem he does not have much to do after the master test plan. Designs have not yet been delivered, meaning that it is too early to specify test cases. In practice, except parttime deployment, there are a number of tasks that the test manager may take on in the process in consultation with the client:

• Creating test plans for individual test levels
• Creating procedures and templates, setting up a defect administration - The management approach described in the master test plan often requires expansion. The test manager is well placed to do this.
• Organising reviews/inspections - This activity is often not assigned or allocated to the project manager who has (too) little time for it. The test manager is well placed to organise this activity, moderate sessions, etc.
• Reviewing intermediate products - By participating in reviews of intermediate products from the perspective of testability, the quality of the intermediate products is increased and the test manager gains a lot of knowledge about the system to be tested. We should specifically mention reviewing whether relevant non-functional requirements, such as security and userfriendliness, have been specified and whether the requirements are adequately SMART (Specific, Measurable, Acceptable, Realistic and Time-bound) defined.
• Tasks relating to requirements, quality, configuration, change or risk management If the test manager possesses the required knowledge, he may play a part in setting up or executing other, quality assurance-related project activities.
• Increasing awareness of testing - Devote time to the awareness within the organisation and project of (the importance of) testing. Clarify the place of testing and the role of the test manager in the upcoming process. Creating a social network and emphatically claiming the test manager role strengthens the position of the test manager in the rest of the process.