Too
many IT projects start falling apart even before the system goes live!
Testing is where we find business confidence and project credibility
start to take big hits if too many bugs and issue start getting out of
control and communications to the stakeholders are not managed
effectively. We believe that managing business expectations and
involving them during the testing phase is important for project
creditability and business confidence to remain intact.
We have identified the following reasons why testing can get out of control:
No "living" test strategy and plan to outline what needs to be done
when, how and by whom. We believe the project should not commence
testing without a testing strategy which has been signed off by the
steering committee.
Lack of a clear communication
plan to present status, explain issues and focus the agenda on what
matters. It is crucial to identify testing stakeholders and develop a
communication plan. This plan should consider who is supportive,
neutral and who is dead against the changes proposed and the
communication then needs to take this into account.
Silo
approach between processes and functions -it is not uncommon to find
business process testers unable to complete their tests due to another
process not completing theirs as planned.
Software
vendor working to a different plan and delivery schedule. Delays could
be avoided if the vendor is managed to the same timelines as the
project. We always recommend an integrated approach with the software
vendor- this includes the joint bugs review and the updating of the
test cycles and plans. It is key to have the vendor Defect Manager play
a proactive role in your project and communicating vendor responses
clearly and effectively.
The technical environments
not closely managed and monitored before and during testing. Too many
technical failures (e.g. Server too slow / down) has meant the business
testers wasting time and getting frustrated with IT.
The above can be avoided if the right plans and resources were put in place. Centura can assist you with:
Defining your test strategy
Defining and implementing test management processes
Training your test resources (IT and Business) how to work effectively within stressful test environments
Evaluate and select test management tools for your project
Provide testers to complement and support your resources
