Skill description
Assessing specified or unspecified functional requirements and characteristics of products, systems and services through investigation and testing.
Guidance notes
Functional testing verifies that systems, components and interfaces deliver specific functionality, operate as intended and meet user expectations. Risk-based test planning and execution is a key aspect, focusing on identifying and mitigating risks such as functionality errors, integration failures, edge case defects, data inconsistencies and non-compliance with requirements.
Activities may include, but are not limited to:
- collaborating with stakeholders to align testing with business requirements and objectives.
- designing and adapting test cases based on requirements, including various scenarios, boundary values and edge cases.
- preparing data and configuring environments to simulate realistic use cases.
- executing tests to verify actual results align with expected outcomes.
- logging defects with detailed reproduction steps, prioritising issues and providing feedback for improvements.
- analysing results to identify patterns, assess quality and suggest system/testing enhancements.
- promoting a shift-left approach by integrating functional testing early in the lifecycle for early issue detection.
- managing, executing and automating tests, including regression and smoke tests, to improve efficiency and coverage.
- developing and maintaining scalable, reliable automated tests and frameworks to validate critical functionality and ensure continuous quality.
- ensuring compliance with industry standards, regulations and recognised good practices.
Level 1Follow
Executes given manual functional test scripts under supervision to verify basic software capabilities.
Configures test environments, uses basic automated tools for functionality verification, records results and reports issues.
Level 2Assist
Assists in designing functional test cases and creating test scripts.
Supports the preparation of test data for functional testing under supervision.
Configures test environments to reflect realistic use cases.
Executes and records manual and automated functional tests, analysing results and reporting on findings, issues and risks.
Level 3Apply
Designs detailed functional test cases and scripts, covering various scenarios and boundary values.
Actively participates in requirement and design reviews, refining test plans based on insights gained.
Undertakes structured exploratory testing to investigate and verify functionality.
Prepares test data, configures environments and automates repeatable tests.
Executes tests, logs defects with detailed information and analyses results to assess system functionality.
Level 4Enable
Selects appropriate functional testing approaches, considering risk, criticality and complexity.
Develops, automates and executes comprehensive test plans and cases.
Configures environments to mirror real-world usage, collaborates with stakeholders to refine requirements and manages scalable automated testing frameworks.
Identifies and mitigates risks during testing, provides detailed analysis and reports on functional test activities and results, including work done by others.
Level 5Ensure, advise
Leads functional testing efforts across all development stages, ensuring alignment with functional requirements and focusing on risk-based prioritisation.
Provides authoritative advice on testing methods, tools and frameworks.
Monitors and improves test coverage, collaborates with teams to address challenges and ensures compliance with standards.
Leads efforts to improve the efficiency and reliability of functional testing.
Identifies improvements and contributes to organisational policies, standards and guidelines for functional testing.
Level 6Initiate, influence
Develops organisational policies, standards and guidelines for functional testing, ensuring they align with business strategy and incorporate a risk-based approach.
Plans and leads complex testing initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and incorporating a risk-based approach.
Manages risks and opportunities, coordinates with other testing activities and drives improvements in functional testing capabilities.
Promotes a culture of quality in functional testing, driving adherence to organisational standards and proactive risk mitigation.
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