Project Management

Projects are the foundation of your testing organization in ConductorQA. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about creating, configuring, and managing projects effectively.

What is a Project?

A Project in ConductorQA represents a software application or system you want to test. It serves as the top-level container for organizing all testing activities related to a specific product, service, or system component.

Project Characteristics

Application Container: Houses multiple applications or system components
Team Workspace: Provides dedicated collaboration space for project teams
Test Organization: Contains all test suites and test cases
Execution History: Maintains complete record of test runs and results
Analytics Hub: Provides project-specific metrics and insights

Project Examples

Web Applications

E-commerce Platform
Content Management System
Customer Portal
Admin Dashboard

Mobile Applications

iOS Banking App
Android Social Media App
Cross-Platform Gaming App

Backend Systems

Payment Processing API
User Authentication Service
Data Analytics Platform
Microservices Architecture

Integrated Systems

Complete Software Suite
Multi-Tier Application
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Creating Your First Project

Prerequisites

Before creating a project, ensure you have:

Completed account setup and email verification
Basic understanding of your testing requirements
List of applications/components you’ll be testing
Team members who will need access (optional)

Step-by-Step Project Creation

1. Navigate to Project Creation

From the home dashboard, click “Projects” in main navigation
Click “Create Project” button
You’ll see the project creation form

2. Basic Project Information

Project Name

Use descriptive, recognizable names
Consider including environment if applicable
Examples: “E-commerce Platform”, “Mobile Banking App v2.0”

Project Description

Provide context about what the project covers
Include key features or focus areas
Mention target environments if relevant

Example:

Name: Customer Portal
Description: Web-based customer portal for account management, 
support tickets, and service requests. Includes both frontend 
interface and backend API testing.

3. Application Configuration

Define the applications or components your project will test:

Frontend Applications

Web interfaces (React, Angular, Vue.js)
Mobile apps (iOS, Android)
Desktop applications

Backend Services

REST APIs
GraphQL endpoints
Microservices
Database layers

Integration Points

Third-party services
Payment gateways
Authentication providers
External APIs

Example Application List:

Customer Web Interface
Customer Mobile App
Backend API
Payment Integration
User Authentication Service

4. Environment Setup

Configure the environments where testing will occur:

Common Environments

Development (dev, local)
Testing (test, QA)
Staging (stage, pre-prod)
Production (prod, live)

Project Settings and Configuration

After creating your project, configure additional settings:

General Settings

Project Visibility: Public to organization or restricted
Default Environment: Primary environment for test runs
Timezone: For accurate timestamps and scheduling
Archive Settings: Data retention and cleanup policies

Team Management

Project Members: Users with access to this project
Role Assignments: Admin, Manager, QA Engineer, Viewer
Permission Levels: Read, Write, Execute, Admin access

Integration Settings

API Access: Enable/disable API access for this project
Webhook Configuration: Real-time notifications setup
External Tool Integration: Connect with CI/CD, issue tracking

Project Structure and Organization

Hierarchical Organization

Understanding the project hierarchy helps in organizing testing activities:

Project: E-commerce Platform
├── Applications
│   ├── Web Frontend
│   ├── Mobile App
│   ├── Backend API
│   └── Payment Gateway
├── Test Suites
│   ├── User Authentication
│   │   ├── Login Tests
│   │   ├── Registration Tests
│   │   └── Password Reset Tests
│   ├── Product Catalog
│   │   ├── Product Search
│   │   ├── Product Details
│   │   └── Category Navigation
│   └── Order Management
│       ├── Shopping Cart
│       ├── Checkout Process
│       └── Order History
└── Test Executions
    ├── Daily Regression Runs
    ├── Feature Validation Runs
    └── Release Testing Runs

Multi-Application Testing

Projects support testing multiple applications simultaneously:

Application Dependencies

Map relationships between applications
Define testing order and prerequisites
Coordinate cross-application test scenarios

Shared Test Cases

Create test cases that span multiple applications
Validate end-to-end user journeys
Test integration points between applications

Environment Coordination

Ensure application versions are synchronized
Manage environment-specific configurations
Coordinate deployment schedules for testing

Project Dashboard and Analytics

Project Overview Dashboard

Each project includes a comprehensive dashboard with:

Key Metrics

Total Test Suites: Number of test suite collections
Total Test Cases: Individual test cases across all suites
Recent Executions: Latest test run activities
Success Rates: Pass/fail percentages over time

Visual Analytics

Test Execution Trends: Daily/weekly execution patterns
Success Rate Charts: Historical performance tracking
Execution Time Analysis: Performance and efficiency metrics
Application Coverage: Testing coverage by application

Time-Based Filtering

Last 7 days: Short-term trends and immediate insights
Last 30 days: Monthly performance patterns
Last 90 days: Quarterly analysis and long-term trends
Last 1 year: Annual performance and historical data

Real-Time Monitoring

Live Execution Tracking

Active Test Runs: Currently executing tests
Progress Indicators: Visual progress bars and percentages
Real-Time Status Updates: Live status changes and notifications
Resource Utilization: Execution performance metrics

Alert System

Failure Notifications: Immediate alerts for test failures
Performance Alerts: Warnings for execution time issues
Status Change Notifications: Updates on test run state changes
Team Notifications: Relevant updates for project team members

Advanced Project Management

Project Templates

Create reusable project templates for consistency:

Template Components

Standard Applications: Common application types
Base Test Suites: Foundational test suite structures
Default Settings: Pre-configured project settings
Team Roles: Standard role assignments

Template Usage

New Project Creation: Quick setup with templates
Consistency: Standardized project structures
Best Practices: Embedded organizational standards
Time Savings: Reduced setup time for new projects

Project Cloning and Migration

Project Cloning

Full Structure Copy: Complete project duplication
Selective Cloning: Choose specific components to copy
Cross-Environment Setup: Clone for different environments
Team Migration: Transfer team assignments and roles

Data Migration

Test Case Migration: Move test cases between projects
Suite Organization: Reorganize test suites as needed
Historical Data: Preserve execution history when possible
Settings Transfer: Copy configuration and preferences

Project Archival and Cleanup

Archival Process

End-of-Life Projects: Archive completed or discontinued projects
Data Preservation: Maintain historical data for reporting
Access Restriction: Limit access to archived projects
Storage Optimization: Reduce active storage usage

Cleanup Procedures

Old Execution Data: Remove outdated test run data
Obsolete Test Cases: Clean up irrelevant test cases
Inactive Users: Remove users no longer on project
Configuration Reset: Clear outdated settings and configurations

Project Collaboration

Team Management

Adding Team Members

Navigate to Project Settings: Go to Team Management section
Invite Members: Use email addresses to send invitations
Assign Roles: Set appropriate permissions for each member
Set Permissions: Configure read/write/execute access levels

Role Definitions

Project Admin

Full project management capabilities
Can modify project settings and configuration
Can add/remove team members and assign roles
Full access to all test data and analytics

Project Manager

Can create and manage test suites and cases
Can execute test runs and view results
Can manage team member roles (except Admin)
Access to project analytics and reporting

QA Engineer

Can create and edit test cases
Can execute test runs and report results
Can view project analytics and dashboards
Cannot modify project settings or team membership

Viewer

Read-only access to project data
Can view test cases, results, and analytics
Cannot create, edit, or execute tests
Cannot access project settings or team management

Communication and Documentation

Project Communication

Comments and Notes: Add context to test cases and results
Status Updates: Share project progress with stakeholders
Issue Tracking: Link test failures to bug reports
Team Announcements: Broadcast important project updates

Documentation Integration

Test Case Documentation: Detailed test case descriptions and steps
Project Wiki: Centralized project knowledge base
Best Practices: Document project-specific testing approaches
Process Documentation: Standard operating procedures for the project

Best Practices for Project Management

Project Planning

Initial Setup

Clear Scope Definition: Clearly define what the project will test
Application Inventory: Complete list of all applications and components
Team Identification: Identify all stakeholders and their roles
Environment Planning: Map all testing environments and their purposes

Ongoing Management

Regular Reviews: Periodic assessment of project structure and effectiveness
Performance Monitoring: Track project metrics and identify improvements
Team Feedback: Collect and incorporate team suggestions
Process Optimization: Continuously improve project workflows

Organization Strategies

Naming Conventions

Consistent Patterns: Use standardized naming across projects
Descriptive Names: Choose names that clearly indicate purpose
Version Management: Include version information when applicable
Environment Distinction: Clearly identify different environments

Structure Guidelines

Logical Grouping: Organize applications and test suites logically
Scalable Design: Plan for growth and expansion
Modular Organization: Create reusable components and structures
Clear Hierarchy: Maintain clear parent-child relationships

Quality Assurance

Regular Maintenance

Content Review: Regularly review and update test cases
Performance Assessment: Monitor execution times and efficiency
Team Training: Ensure team members understand project structure
Documentation Updates: Keep project documentation current

Continuous Improvement

Metric Analysis: Use project analytics to identify improvement areas
Process Refinement: Continuously optimize testing workflows
Tool Integration: Leverage new tools and features as they become available
Feedback Implementation: Act on team and stakeholder feedback

Next Steps: Now that you understand project management, explore Test Suite Organization to learn how to structure your tests effectively, or dive into Team Collaboration for advanced collaboration features.