1.6Getting Sign-Off and Managing Changes

Getting Sign-Off

The purpose of sign-off is not bureaucracy -- it is alignment. When the product manager, tech lead, and QA lead all sign the test plan, they are agreeing on what "tested" means for this release.

Who signs off:

• QA Lead: owns the plan
• Tech Lead / Engineering Manager: confirms feasibility and completeness
• Product Manager: confirms scope and priorities align with business needs

How to get sign-off without wasting time:

1. Share a draft early (not a finished document)
2. Review it in a short meeting (15-30 minutes) rather than asking people to review asynchronously
3. Focus the discussion on scope, risks, and exit criteria -- the decisions that matter
4. Document agreements and disagreements. If the PM wants to skip regression on Module X, note it explicitly.

Managing Changes

Test plans change. Requirements change, timelines shift, bugs reveal new risks. The plan should be a living document.

Change management process:

1. When a significant change occurs (scope added, risk materialized, timeline compressed), update the plan
2. Highlight the change clearly (bold text, revision notes, or a change log section)
3. Notify stakeholders of the change and its impact on testing
4. If the change affects exit criteria or scope, get re-confirmation