Testing- FAQS What is the Lifecycle of ‘Automation’?

Various Stages involved in automation life cycle are 

· Automation Feasibility Analysis
· Test Plan & Test Design
· Test Environment Setup
· Automation Script Generation
· Test Execution
· Defect Analysis and Fixing
· Cost involved in Automation
  

1. Automation Feasibility Analysis 
Requirements and expectations should be set clear.  Things like
a. How and what is to be automated
b. Which all modules can be automated
c. Identify the test cases that cannot be automated due to tool limitations and/or complexity of the functionality
d. Analyse the applicability of a suitable tool to carry out automation
e. Rough estimate of the size, effort and cost involved in this automation
f. Review of feasibility analysis report should be decided in the beginning itself to prevent any confusion after the automation process has been flagged off.  This stage hence requires great attention. 

2. Test Plan and Designa. Analyse the manual steps from automation standpoint
b. Identify frame works
c. Analyse the frame works for their pros and cons
d. Finalize a frame work
e. Categorise scripts based on functionality
f. Identify the functionality to be parameterised
g. Prepare the detailed cost, size and effort estimate
h. Review of Test Plan by client
  

3. Test Environment Setup
Test team may not be involved in this aspect if the development team provides the test environment in which case test team is required to check the readiness of the given environment.
a. Understand the required architecture, Environment-setup

b. Prepare an Environment checklist
c. Prepare hardware and software requirements
d. Finalize the connectivity requirements
e. Setup Test Environment
  

4. Automation Script Generation
a. Create test scenarios
b. Identify re-usable test scenarios
c. Group common test cases together
d. Finalize the test scripts 

5. Test Execution
a. Perform the testing as per the Test Plan
b. Perform the batch test wherever necessary
c. Update the status in status report d. Log the defects 

6. Defect Analysis and Fixing
a. Analyse the severity and priority of the defect
b. Fix the defects
c. Document the defect along with the solution 

7. Cost involved in automation

Fixed Cost
a. Feasibility analysis cost
b. Tool selection and Acquisition cost
c. Hiring or training the resources
d. Time in learning the application/business process
e. Proof of concept f. Test suite documentation effort 

Variable Cost
a. Script maintenance and documentations cost
b. Automated test infrastructure maintenance cost
c. Execution cost