Roley, the Project Manager: So, Bob where are we on the Schedule?
Bob, The Dev lead: I’m afraid, we might need another week than anticipated.
Roley: Really? Then we might have to squeeze QA in remaining 2 days of the schedule.
Dizzy, the QA lead: Two days for the entire test cycle? We are off to a bumpy start for Day 2. Aren’t we!
***
In our experience, working across multiple IT system implementations of different scale of complexity (new, replacements & upgrades) both external and in house, we’ve continuously come across multiple challenges that led to costly corrections.
Consolidating a few key ones below –
- QA being looked at as the last leg of implementation
- Lack of foresight in planning for the future leading to delays, incorrect scope determination, repeat effort etc.
- Lack of preparation in the context of visibility, reusability & traceability across process steps (requirements, execution, issue management etc.)
- Siloed approach in execution, Missing horizontal & vertical perspectives, Lack of dedicated team availability, In competencies in issue management etc.
- UAT – one of the critical decisioning tests not given the priority required leading to identification of lot of issues post go-live.
- Lack of evidence of detailed testing, single platform for overviews, miscommunications between teams etc.
To reiterate, QA is not just about a team processing transactions and marking a “Pass” or “Fail”, but much beyond. Introducing Manomay’s QA Framework in the context of people, process, technology and data, for right assessment/certification and to alleviate the above challenges –
Fig1 – Manomay QA FW
People: Right team is critical for the right preparation and execution for any QA activity.
- Right Skillset – To be a combination of business and tech understanding with pattern-based thinking
- Dedicated Focus – Dedicated team with QA as its core focus
- Allocation of Team based on type of test – For e.g.: UAT must be processed by business users for certification.
Process: Standardized processes are key to success. It is highly essential that the entire test process is streamlined and structured and the team is educated of this right from test scope determination, execution approach definition to final certification for UAT/Go live.
- Scope Determination – To be determined based on business impact, frequency, and value.
- Right Planning– QA team to be involved from inception of the implementation lifecycle for right determination of – type of test, approach, coverage, cycles, teams etc.
- Preparation – Key focus is on reusability and identification of what is common and what is specific across scope areas.
- Execution & Defect Management – Involvement across teams, visibility on issue status, ease in tracking, traceability, impact-based priority definition, priority-based workflow definition etc.
- Documentation – Standardization, reusability, availability & maintenance
- Communication – For collaboration, visibility & tracking.
Technology: Usage of Tools from the beginning for ease in recording, execution, tracking, visibility & updates, across the quality assurance lifecycle.
- Simplify Standard Processes – Requirement’s traceability, defect tracking and management, test cycles scope and planning etc.
- Automation where required – For repeat tests (Build verification test), test data preparation etc.
Data: Key parameter for determination – a make or break factor.
Often forgotten across the overall QA lifecycle, with data considerations such as migrated data, aged data, new data etc.
Great, you know and understand the framework. However, for successful implementation of this one of the key challenges is in getting the buy-in from the customers (i.e., insurance companies) – for them to understand the criticality or importance of (right) QA and for them to make the team available with dedicated focus as and when needed.
If this is addressed 80% of challenges are addressed even before initiation.
And remember Quality is never an accident!
Curious to know what we can do? Reach out to us at inquisite@manomay.biz & meet.
Biz Tech Insights Team
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