Risk-based testing | 13
other application landscapes, is that In the past, businesses deploying
if you are not testing your business ERP solutions demanded heavily
processes then you are wasting bespoke systems leaving IT (and
time, effort and resource, while not subsequently testing) focused on
properly protecting against failure resolving technical integration
and performance issues. In today’s issues. Removed from the business
economic climate, no organisation and skilled in test tool functionality,
can afford to do this. testers were compromised by their
Testing is still seen by most people limited knowledge of processes,
as costly and time consuming. This is applications or the dependencies
hardly surprising when you consider behind the data they were testing.
the number of companies that have The approach was inevitably
delayed go-live dates on multiple orientated around technology. In
occasions due to failures identified in testing SAP, business processes
testing. Others have had to increase were over-looked in preference to
the spend associated with testing by individual transactions. The focus was
up to three times original estimates largely by SAP module, with a limited
due to Gantt Chart driven test appreciation of how each business
plans or suffer stabilisation periods process could span multiple modules
as long as two years because of or how processes had the potential
poor application quality. Testing is to affect seemingly disparate ends
supposed to remove these challenges of an organisation. Testers, focused
for organisations, not add to them. on the merits of their test tools,
Companies frequently ask, “What lacked a knowledge or appreciation of
should we test?” Surely, this basic business goals and could not deliver
question should be easily answered the predictable outcomes sought by
by every tester; you need to test the business.
what presents the business with Today we have to recognise that
the most risk, what truly matters the key to unlocking the value in
to the business. Knowing how to testing is through early involvement,
determine this true understanding understanding business processes
of business risk can only come and the potential knock-on effects
from an understanding of the that exist within companies’ unique
business processes. This will enable business frameworks. In addition to
alignment of testing activities to possessing business understanding
critical business processes and drive and acumen, testing experts need
efficiencies into the test cycle. This to understand how SAP works; the
seems like common sense, but still dependencies behind the data, its
you can witness approaches such enterprise-wide integration and
as, 1) attempting to test everything the technical challenges presented
2) testing only what is allowed by by NetWeaver and SOA. Only
project timelines, or 3) testing only then will an individual’s technical
the system, technology & code and understanding of test tools be of
not taking into account reality - the maximum value to testing SAP and
business processes. the business. This blend of skill is not
common but the rewards are well
Why testing has failed worth the effort.
The reality within an
to meet the challenge of
SAP landscape, as within
Business Process Testing What is risk-based
Born as a discipline of IT, testing process testing?
the majority of other
is a victim of its own heritage One of the common mistakes is to
application landscapes, is
and, from the start became overly take a blanket approach and trying that if you are not testing
focused on tools. The roles and skills to test everything. However, this is
your business processes
required by testers along with the never an option; to replicate every
importance of intelligent testing variation of every activity that a
then you are wasting time,
methodologies have been neglected. business conducts in a test phase
effort and resource, while
Experior has a testing methodology would always be too costly. A risk- not properly protecting
that combines business process based approach is not just desirable
against failure and
and analysis knowledge, with SAP or the latest big idea, but a necessity.
performance issues. In
Systems knowledge and testing When you can’t test everything
expertise – ensuring that testing not deciding what to test is crucial.
today’s economic climate,
only aids the business in reaching its Once you have a thorough no organisation can afford
objectives, but also achieves understanding of business and
to do this.
ROI faster. business process, only then can you
www.testmagazineonline.com September 09 | T.E.S.T
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