The first stage in testing is the
formulation of a test strategy. A test strategy is a statement of the overall
approach to testing, identifying what levels of testing are to be applied and
the methods, techniques and tools to be used. A test strategy should ideally be
organization wide, being applicable to all of organizations' development
practices. Developing a test strategy that efficiently meets the needs of an
organization is critical to the success of the development of products within
the organization. The actual application (or implementation) of a test strategy
to a development project should be detailed in the project's software quality
plan. Others feel that this should be handled by the test plan.
