Daily Status Report (DSR)

A Daily Status Report (DSR) is a concise, structured update that communicates the current testing progress, defects, blockers, and risks to stakeholders on a daily basis.

DSR answers: “Where do we stand today, and is anything at risk?”

1. Definition

A Daily Status Report (DSR) is a concise, structured update that communicates the current testing progress, defects, blockers, and risks to stakeholders on a daily basis.

2. Purpose of a Daily Status Report

• Provide transparency on testing progress
• Highlight risks and blockers early
• Enable quick decision-making
• Align stakeholders on priorities and timelines
• Track day-to-day movement toward goals

3. Audience

• Project Manager
• Product Owner
• Test Lead / QA Manager
• Development Team (as needed)

4. Typical Contents of a DSR

4.1 Summary

Brief overview of the day’s testing activities.

4.2 Test Execution Status

• Planned vs executed test cases
• Pass / Fail / Blocked counts

4.3 Defect Status

• New defects logged
• Open / Fixed / Closed defects
• Severity-wise snapshot

4.4 Blockers & Risks

• Environment issues
• Data or dependency constraints
• Impact on timelines

4.5 Plan for Next Day

• Testing focus for tomorrow
• Pending items

5. Sample DSR Format (Conceptual)

Date:

Build / Environment:

• Test Cases
  • Planned: 40
  • Executed: 35
  • Passed: 30
  • Failed: 5
  • Blocked: 5
• Defects
  • New: 4 (1 Critical, 2 High, 1 Medium)
  • Open: 10
  • Closed Today: 3
• Blockers
  • Payment service downtime
• Next Day Plan
  • Re-test payment fixes
  • Execute regression for checkout

6. Manual Tester’s Responsibilities

• Update accurate execution data
• Report defects with correct severity
• Clearly state blockers and risks
• Keep the report concise and factual
• Share on time (daily cadence)

7. DSR vs Test Execution Report

8. Best Practices

• Be precise and honest
• Highlight risks early (no surprises)
• Avoid unnecessary detail
• Keep a consistent format
• Use numbers, not narratives

9. Common Mistakes

• Overloading with technical details
• Hiding blockers or risks
• Inconsistent metrics day-to-day
• Late or missed updates

10. Interview-Ready Answers

Short answer:

A daily status report provides a summary of testing progress, defects, and risks for the day.

Detailed answer:

The daily status report communicates day-to-day testing progress, defect status, blockers, and next steps to ensure transparency and timely decision-making.

11. Key Takeaway

A well-written DSR keeps stakeholders informed, aligned, and proactive—preventing surprises at the end.