Reporting discrepancies as incidents is part of which testing phase?

Reporting discrepancies as incidents is a key activity that occurs during the Test Implementation and Execution phase. In this phase, testers actively execute the test cases and compare the actual results to the expected results. When discrepancies—often referred to as defects or bugs—are identified, they must be documented and reported as incidents. This ensures that the development team is made aware of issues that need to be addressed.

The focus of this phase is on the practical implementation of the tests and the real-time identification and management of any issues that arise during testing. Effective incident reporting during this phase is crucial as it contributes to the overall quality and reliability of the software product being tested. By capturing discrepancies, testers facilitate a process where necessary fixes can be made, which is essential for achieving the planned quality standards.

Other phases, like Test Analysis and Design, focus on preparing for testing and planning, while Test Closure Activities and Evaluating exit criteria and reporting deal with final evaluations and administrative processes after testing has been carried out, rather than the real-time identification of issues.