QA Plan Template

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Project Name:

Date:

Introduction

Purpose

Outline the purpose of this document and clearly state which project or product it belongs to. We recommend linking to your project plan for better clarity.

Scope

Define which phases of the project your QA plan covers and summarize the document’s contents. It’s best to include a list for quick reference. Here’s an example:

This plan encompasses all project phases, from requirements gathering to completion. It covers:

• Roles and responsibilities.

• QA processes.

• Goals and metrics.

• Risk management.

Objectives

Define 3–5 tangible goals for your plan to establish expectations from the start. This may include:

• To maintain clarity and transparency.

• To determine and achieve consistent quality standards.

• To define standardized methods and tools for measuring quality.

• To set realistic expectations.

Roles and Responsibilities

Project Team

List the full names and job titles of your project team. If you want to include more details, such as contact methods and duties, it’s best to use a table. Here’s an example:

Name: Julie Moore

Job title: QA Lead

Responsibilities: Oversees testing strategy and defect resolution

Contact: [email protected]

QA Team: List your QA team members.

QA Processes and Protocols

Processes and Methodologies

Provide a quick overview of your process, and explain how your QA strategy fits in.

Reviews and Audits

Define how and when your team will audit the process and ensure all employees are following QA activities. 

Testing Plan

Testing Strategy

Briefly explain your processes, such as manual or automated testing, and outline which phases you’ll cover (including alpha and beta). We also recommend listing the testing levels the plan includes, such as unit, integration, system, and user acceptance.

Testing Scope

Determine your testing plan’s limitations, including which features and functionalities will be reviewed and which will not. This is also where you’ll list specific exclusions, like operating systems you won’t support.

Defect Reporting and Tracking

Summarize your strategy for handling product defects. This should be a brief summary describing how to identify, track, fix, and report issues.

Quality Metrics and KPIs

Metrics and Measurements

Provide a concise list of your QA metrics, including the measurement type you’ll use, the ideal value and which team member is responsible. A table is best for organizing this section.

Data Collection Methods

Describe how your engineers will collect and analyze QA data.

Risk Management

Risk Identification

Identify the problems that could affect the QA process and their potential impact and likelihood. 

Mitigation Strategies

Outline actions to reduce or avoid risks. It’s best to write a specific strategy to address each issue separately.

Contingency Plans

Determine backup strategies if one of these situations arises. Contingency plans are generally considered emergencies, so you only need to create them for high-impact problems.

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