Actual life Quote by James A. Whittaker
![“As test documentation goes, test plans have the briefest actual lifespan of any test artifact. Early in a project, there is a push to write a test plan [...]. Indeed, there is often an insistence among project managers that a test plan must exist and that writing it is a milestone of some…” quote by James A. Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/201/james-a-whittaker-62991_actual-life_as-test-documentation-goes-test-plans-ha_2835978.jpg)
““As test documentation goes, test plans have the briefest actual lifespan of any test artifact. Early in a project, there is a push to write a test plan [...]. Indeed, there is often an insistence among project managers that a test plan must exist and that writing it is a milestone of some importance. But, once such a plan is written, it is often hard to get any of those same managers to take reviewing and updating it seriously. The test plan becomes a beloved stuffed animal in the hands of a distracted child. We want it to be there at all times. We drag it around from place to place without ever giving it any real attention. We only scream when it gets taken away.””
About This Quote
Test plans are often created as formalities, but they lose relevance when not actively maintained, becoming decorative rather than functional artifacts.
In simple terms: Test plans become decorative if not kept current.
Key Takeaway
Keep test plans alive through regular review.
Themes
project management
testing
documentation
Mood
practical
critical
Type
process
inspirational
When to use this quote
- software development
- quality assurance
- project planning
Key Concepts
artifact decay
process discipline
Questions to Reflect On
- How can teams embed continuous test plan upkeep into workflow?
- What incentives encourage genuine use of test plans?
A Different Perspective
Plans can become obsolete quickly without ongoing engagement.
