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The purpose of the preparation phase
During the preparation phase, the conditions for the test are planned and determined based on what emerged during the work with needs and matching. The prerequisites are documented in plans for the test and the project is staffed and resourced.
Plans and documentation
Project plan
All important information about the test is gathered here. Think of the plan as a map that guides you from start to finish. It does not require magic to create a project plan for the test, but above all it is about concretizing, clarifying and describing the test and its components - WHY, WHAT, WHO, HOW to goals, participants, resources, etc. Remember to involve all test participants in the plan. It will facilitate collaboration going forward and increase the participants' commitment and willingness to take responsibility for their parts. Don't forget that outsiders should be able to understand your project plan, so don't complicate things unnecessarily.
Sure, it may take time and energy, but making a plan is easier than you think. Purely spontaneously, you may think that it feels unnecessary and that you want to throw yourself into the testing and start working immediately. But remember that good planning with a clear purpose and goal will help you perform the test safely and efficiently. It should be fun and easy to understand. Then it will be easier to handle any deviations that may occur along the way.
A clear plan also ensures that all parties act on the same playing field. Therefore, the testing business and the company - whose service or product is to be tested - need to agree on the content of the project plan before the test starts. They need to participate on equal terms in both meetings and work going forward.
The project plan, together with risk analysis and communication plan, is determined by the project owner for the test.
Risk analysis
The risk analysis involves using all available information to identify and describe risks that may arise. With the help of the analysis, the probability of various unwanted events and their consequences is assessed.
The purpose of conducting a risk analysis is to create a basis for decisions about which security measures should be introduced, but also to raise awareness of vulnerabilities and risks that may occur. In a risk analysis, you need to answer three questions:
- What can happen?
- How likely is that?
- What will be the consequences?
Use the risk analysis model that best suits you and your business. The important thing is that you together describe and calculate the risks, as well as define measures to be able to manage the risks immediately, or when they arise.
Communication plan
The communication plan is a support for communicating with a target group, both internally and externally. It should include an introduction with background, a current situation, definitions and delimitations. Identify your target groups. Which ones are prioritized? What needs, prerequisites and prior knowledge do they have?
If the communication is to be successful, you need to be able to relate to your target group's interest, knowledge and commitment to the topics you wish to communicate. It is with the target group that you best measure the effect of your communication efforts.
One tip is to define concrete communication activities right from the start. Consider what is to be communicated, when, through which channel and who is responsible (depending on the number of stakeholders and the complexity of the task).
The communication plan helps the project manager understand important aspects of the test, such as decision paths and how the results need to be disseminated to provide value.
Use the communication plan you are comfortable with. There is space in the project plan to describe your plan for communication, but a specific document will help you more deeply identify key stakeholders and activities for communicating the test results. It is important that the test participants are allowed to participate in the work of identifying and defining target groups and communication activities.
Participants and roles
Identify which functions and roles should be included during the test. Make sure they are involved in the whole process, from preparation to closing.
Comprehensive planning
Timetable
Keep in mind that a test must be carried out for a limited period of time and have a clear start and stop. The assessment of the time consumption depends entirely on what is to be tested and the question, or intention, that exists with the test. Respect that it takes time to get started and build relationships, while a test needs to end regardless of whether both actors want to continue or not. A recommended time for a test is around two to six months.
Budget, costs and financing
The participating organizations must themselves be responsible for the respective efforts and personnel costs. This is to ensure that the test project is as neutral as possible. The principle is that participating organizations participate based on their own interest and motivation to jointly implement a test project that leads to learning and exchange of experience.
Supplementary analysis and values
The business and the companies together have the capacity to carry out a test to a certain level, but sometimes there may be a need to add additional layers of analysis in order to be able to answer the current question, or fulfill the purpose of the test.
Analyses, reviews and other resources can be added to strengthen the results of the tests, or the interaction with the tested service or product. The added analysis can be carried out before, during or after the test. Regardless, it increases insights and generates new knowledge, as well as adding value to any further work or decisions.
- Impact and benefit calculation – Analysis of benefits and economic or temporal effects.
- Service Due Diligence – An independent analysis of the service or product to be tested. Contributes to increased transparency and security around technical aspects before tests. Read more about Transparency here.
- Research study that can strengthen the value analysis, for example linked to the user perspective, or new output data in relation that can strengthen validation or evidence about the service being tested.
