What does a test strategy provide for an organization?

A test strategy offers a high-level description of the test levels and associated testing activities within an organization. It serves as a framework that outlines how testing will be conducted across various projects and products, ensuring alignment with the overall objectives and goals of the organization.

This strategic document identifies the scope of testing, the types of testing to be performed (such as unit, integration, system, and acceptance testing), and the resources needed for those activities. It describes how different testing phases integrate into the development process and highlights the criteria for starting and stopping tests.

In contrast, a detailed list of test cases is typically part of test planning or test design and focuses on the specifics of what will be tested. A step-by-step guide for executing tests falls under test execution documentation and may be more detailed than what a test strategy provides. A specification for automated tests is focused specifically on the automated aspects of testing and does not encompass the broader strategic view that the test strategy is meant to deliver.