Understanding the Testing Process for Software Success

Digital assurance and testing ensures there is a robust process of validating and verifying that a software program, application or product works. It must meet the business and technical requirements of the intended design and development.

It’s important to remember that testing is an ongoing process not a singular activity. It is not a one off!

Software testing can be broken down into the following key parts:

• Planning: Designing tests early in the life cycle to prevent defects from being introduced in the code. It’s important to plan what outcomes are wanted, test activities and progress report timelines.  This also includes documents requirement and design specifications.
• Preparation:  Choosing what tests will be executed, selecting test conditions and designing test cases.
• Static Testing:  Test and find defects during the verification process without executing code; a cost-effective and useful way of testing.
• Dynamic Testing:  The software code is executed to demonstrate the result of running tests. Completed during validation process.
• Evaluation:  Checking the results and evaluating the software under test and the completion criteria. This helps decide whether the process is completed and if the software product has passed the tests. Along with the testing of code, it is important to test requirements, design specifications, operation, user and training material.

So how does a client obtain the best possible outcome from a project in test?    

                                                             

 Here are 5 key pillars:

1. Quality as a Mindset: Quality needs to be recognised from project initiation - not just in the test phase of a project. In fact, it should be across the company as a whole.
2. Requirements / Documentation: Detailed, well written business requirements / documentation guarantees quality from the start. It is vital to have the ability to respond to changes than be strictly compliant with a plan – as testing is a process. Agility is key!
3. Scheduling:  You need to plan to succeed. Agreed timeframes assures that all parties understand the realistic time frames that are needed for testing and targets are met.
4. Communication: Seamless and consistent communication between the project team and its customers is fundamental. Identifying issues early in the process, the agility to process appropriate remedies and consistent feedback continuously improves the testing process.
5. Test Automation: Leveraging test automation ensures quality levels are maintained and overall speed to market is optimised to full potential. 

Sogeti Ireland has unparalleled experience in delivering digital assurance and testing services in mobile, desktop or web applications ensuring high quality and bug free software to end-customers across all industries.

Contact Will Murray, Head of Digital Assurance and Testing, today to learn more about how Sogeti can help you succeed with your testing requirements.