Test Effort Estimator

Purpose

This skill provides a systematic approach to estimate test effort based on product requirements. It analyzes requirements, breaks them down into testable items, estimates effort for each phase (case design, first run, retest, regression), and generates an Excel report.

When to Use

Use this skill when users provide product requirements and need:

Test effort estimation for new features
Resource planning for testing phases
Detailed breakdown of testing activities
Excel export of effort estimates

How to Use

Step 1: Analyze Requirements

Read and understand the provided product requirements. Identify:

Functional modules and features
User stories and test scenarios
Complexity levels of different features

Step 2: Break Down Test Items

For each requirement, identify test items:

Test entry points and navigation
Data display and validation
User interactions and workflows
System operations and state changes

Step 3: Estimate Effort

Apply complexity-based estimation standards:

Simple Features (0.20-0.30 person-days for design):

Single function, clear logic
Few operation steps, simple data preparation
Examples: list display, simple navigation

Medium Features (0.35-0.40 person-days for design):

Multiple sub-functions, moderate complexity
Requires test data preparation
Examples: data filtering, user management

Complex Features (0.50 person-days for design):

Complex business logic, multiple interaction paths
Requires diverse test data, strong dependencies
Examples: online/offline binding, batch operations

Time Calculation Formulas:

Case Design: Simple 0.20-0.30, Medium 0.35-0.40, Complex 0.50
First Run: Simple 0.15-0.20, Medium 0.25-0.30, Complex 0.30-0.40
Retest: 33%-67% of first run, round to 0.10 minimum
Regression: 48%-67% of first run, round to two decimals

Step 4: Generate Excel Report

Use the bundled script scripts/generate_excel.py to create the Excel report with:

Requirement title
Requirement story/description
Case design time
First run time
Retest time
Regression time
Estimation rationale

Constraints

All time values must be >= 0.10 person-days
All time values must be rounded to two decimals
Total estimation error should be within 0.5 person-days of actual values
Minimum unit is 0.01 person-days

Bundled Resources

Scripts

scripts/generate_excel.py: Python script to generate Excel report from estimation data

References

references/complexity-standards.md: Detailed complexity classification criteria and examples
references/estimation-formulas.md: Complete formula documentation and calculation examples

Workflow

Load complexity standards from references/complexity-standards.md
Analyze requirements and identify test items
Apply estimation formulas based on complexity
Execute scripts/generate_excel.py to generate Excel report
Review and validate total estimates against constraints