Manual testing to automatic testing A formal training programme for testers at Bands 3 to 7

Capstone brief: Band 7 test management

Evidence 16 for Module 16. Hours 230.5–268. Assessed at Gate 4.

Field Value
Track Band 7 test management
Band 7
UK GDaD PCF role Test manager
Module 16 depth Apply and lead or coach others
Automation target Working
Presentation 20 minutes, aimed at a non-technical audience

The capstone, from the spec

An automation strategy and metrics for a product or programme, a business case, an adoption and team development plan, and a small automated suite of their own at the Working target.

Scope

A product or programme you manage testing for.

Agree the exact scope with the product owner and mentor at hour 230.5, using the scope agreement, your Evidence 7 analysis, and your Evidence 15 estimate.

Deliverables

  • An automation strategy for the product or programme (from Automation strategy and metrics): approach, layers, tools, environments, data, standards, and what stays manual.
  • Metrics for monitoring and controlling test activities, including suite health (from Module 15).
  • A business case: costs, manual regression time saved, risks reduced.
  • An adoption plan and a team development plan (from Leading teams through automation adoption), including supplier testers.
  • A small automated suite of your own, with a spec, in CI, at the Working target.
  • A short report of residual risks for the programme board.

Acceptance

The product owner and the Gate 4 panel will look for:

  • The strategy and metrics are reviewed by the head of test.
  • The business case uses real numbers from Evidence 7 and Evidence 15.
  • Your own suite passes in CI and fails when behaviour is wrong.
  • The product owner accepts the capstone.
  • Synthetic data only, and no secrets in source control.
  • You can explain every line you submitted.

Support

Independent, with a mentor review every 7.5 hours of learning. For your own suite, the mentor supports you to the Working target.

Presentation

20 minutes, plus questions, following the presentation outline. Include a live run: it is the Gate 4 Part D practical.

Panel

Chair: the head of test, or a lead from outside your area. A developer from another team. The training lead. The clinical safety officer reviews traceability evidence in writing.

Gate 4 thresholds

At least 90% in each of Parts A, B, and C of the capability self-assessment; Part D Meets; no skill more than one level below expected; test engineering at your automation target; capstone accepted by the product owner. See the spec for the full rules.

View this document on GitHub materials/modules/module-16-capstone/brief-band-7-test-management.md