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Phase 4
Working with QA & Test Plans
Quality Assurance (QA) is more than bug-hunting—it’s the discipline of ensuring products are reliable, usable, and market-ready. This module introduces QA as a process, clarifies the difference between QA and testing, and explains how test plans provide structure and alignment across teams. You’ll learn the key elements of a QA test plan, how approaches differ in Agile vs. Waterfall, and the role PMs play in ensuring quality doesn’t slip through the cracks. By the end, you’ll understand how to collaborate effectively with QA teams and use test planning as a tool to reduce risk, improve communication, and deliver products customers trust.
What is QA?
Quality Assurance (QA) is the systematic process of validating that a product meets defined standards before release. Unlike quality control (QC), which focuses on detecting defects through inspection, QA is broader—encompassing processes that prevent defects from occurring in the first place. In software, QA means testing early, documenting standards, and monitoring outcomes continuously.
What is a QA Test Plan?
A QA Test Plan is the roadmap for testing a product. It documents the scope, objectives, methodology, resources, risks, and criteria for success, giving all stakeholders a shared understanding of how quality will be validated.
Key Elements of a QA Test Plan
Test Scope
Features to test, features out of scope, and coverage expectations.
Objectives
Clear, measurable goals aligned with business needs.
Strategy & Approach
Manual vs. automated, black-box vs. white-box, testing types.
Test Environment
Hardware, software, tools, and data setup.
Entry/Exit Criteria
Conditions to start, pause, resume, or end testing.
Risk Management
Identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating potential risks.
PM’s Role in Working with QA
Product Managers don’t write test cases, but they are crucial in ensuring quality is built in, not bolted on. Key responsibilities include:
- Clarify requirements: Ensure they’re testable and unambiguous.
- Balance priorities: Negotiate between speed of delivery and depth of testing.
- Support traceability: Link features to test cases and acceptance criteria.
- Champion quality: Advocate for QA resourcing and time in the roadmap.
- Facilitate communication: Ensure QA has a seat at the table during planning.