"Every organization I've worked for uses the same software testing lifecycle. The individual steps within the STLC make a great deal of sense and, if followed, will result in efficient and accurate testing. The process starts with requirement analysis, followed by test planning, test case design, and the development of a detailed test plan. The next step is to set up the testing environment, execute the tests, then close the cycle by documenting the results and providing recommendations for bug fixes and other corrections to the software. While it's not a formal step, I usually end the process by reviewing the results with the software development team."