Process Area 3.3 – Test Life Cycle and Integration

Purpose

The purpose of the Test Life Cycle and Integration Process Area is to:

• establish and maintain a usable set of test process assets, work environments standards
• integrate and synchronise the test life cycle with the development life cycle
• ensure early involvement of testing in projects
• define a coherent test approach across multiple test levels, based on the identified risks through a defined life cycle test strategy and plan

Scope

The Test Life Cycle and Integration Process Area addresses all practices:

• to establish and maintain a usable set of organisational test process assets and work environment standards
• to integrate and synchronise the test life cycle with the development life cycle

The master test planning practices are also addressed. The master test plan at TMMi Level 3 defines a coherent test approach across multiple test levels.

Deployment

Some points to consider when looking at this Process Area:

• Are all elements of the organisational test approach usable?
• Is the test process well defined, documented, maintained and used?
• Is there an asset library of test items which are maintained by the organisation?
• Is there a test life cycle model defined and does it specify test assets for all test levels?
• Is the test life cycle aligned and integrated with the development life cycle model?