The Diversity of Test Planning Procedures
An overview and evaluation of practices surrounding test planning procedures in Switzerland
The project aims to provide an overview of the breadth and diversity of test planning procedures carried out in Switzerland and also enable a comparison with similar procedures. An in-depth examination of selected test planning procedures by means of surveys and interviews will provide an insight into the prevailing success factors and stumbling blocks. Based on this, the scope organisational forms and possible future trajectories for the instrument shall be highlighted.
Following the long-standing tradition of the Chair of Spatial Development to preach the ideal test planning procedure with its predefined steps, area of application and framework conditions, the research project would like to shift the attention to the diversity of test planning procedures in existence. Since one does not commonly come across optimal conditions in practice, the project wants to shed light on how planning practitioners deal with this discrepancy between doctrine and prevailing conditions.
For the purpose of exploration, a detachment from previous premises and procedural constraints will be undertaken in order to examine the pool of test planning procedures in Switzerland of the past years in an impartial manner.
The object of study is both the scope of application of the procedures, i.e. the spatial task, the topics examined and the objectives pursued, as well as procedural aspects and organisational structures.
In-depth research and surveying will explore the variations and the wealth of variants of an ample number of procedures. Of particular interest are borderline cases that straddle the boundaries of the field and its predominant practices as they strengthen the understanding of the limits of application of test planning procedures.
Based on this, interviews will be conducted with stakeholders from a selection of procedures. Each procedure will be represented through two voices from different committees. This will produce deeper insights into the decision-making processes of the procedures. From this, the most important success factors and stumbling blocks of test planning procedures will be identified from a planning as well as a political perspective, whereby the findings can in turn be carried back into practice.
The project is intended to clarify differences and the common ground of current practice compared to previous doctrine and thus point out possible development trajectories for the future discourse. The elusive definition of what test planning procedures are will be critically reviewed, both in terms of scope and organisation.