Testaustarpeen

Testaustarpeen is a Finnish term that denotes the need for testing within a project, product, or system. The word combines testausta (testing) and tarve (need) with the genitive ending -en, yielding "the need for testing" or "the testing need". While not a formal standard in international quality frameworks, testaustarpeen is used in Finnish software development, manufacturing, and regulatory settings to frame why and what should be tested.

In practice, testaustarpeen appears during early planning and requirements activities. It helps teams define the scope of testing, establish objectives, and allocate resources such as test environments, tools, and personnel. The concept supports risk-based planning by linking testing efforts to identified threats, failure modes, and stakeholder concerns.

Typical activities associated with testing needs include elicitation from stakeholders, review of requirements and design documents, and assessment of risk and criticality. The resulting outputs may include a testaustarpeen kartoitus (a mapping of testing needs), acceptance criteria, and a draft test plan. The term is often used in conjunction with related concepts like test strategy, test plan, and quality assurance.

Notes: Because Finnish is the primary language of use, translations or equivalents may vary. In non-Finnish contexts, speakers commonly describe the underlying idea as "the need for testing" rather than using a single established term.