How do you automate and streamline test dependency verification and validation in UAT?

1 Identify the test dependencies

Identifying the test dependencies in your UAT plan is the first step. A test dependency is a condition or prerequisite that must be met for a test case to be executed, such as having a valid credit card and user account for testing a payment feature. Test dependencies can be internal or external, meaning they can depend on the results of other test cases within the same project or on the availability of external systems or data sources. To identify these, you can review the test cases and user stories, create a test dependency matrix or diagram, use a test management tool or spreadsheet, and consult with developers, business analysts, and stakeholders to clarify any ambiguities or assumptions.

3 Communicate the test dependencies

The third step in the UAT process is to communicate the test dependencies to all relevant parties, such as testers, developers, business analysts, and stakeholders. This can be done through various channels, such as email, chat, or phone updates and reports; meetings or workshops; a shared platform or dashboard; and alerts or notifications. Doing so will ensure all parties are aware of the test dependencies, helping them to prepare and execute their test cases, fix any bugs or issues that may arise, verify or update user stories or requirements, and provide feedback or approval.

4 Automate the test dependencies

The fourth step is to automate the test dependencies as much as possible to reduce manual effort and human error, while increasing efficiency and accuracy. Automation can help you create, update, or delete the test data or the test environments needed to resolve or meet the test dependencies. It can also run, monitor, or validate the test cases that depend on each other or on external factors. Furthermore, automation can generate, analyze, or share the test results or the test reports that show the status or the outcome of the test dependencies. To automate the test dependencies, you could use a variety of tools or techniques such as a test automation framework for data-driven, keyword-driven, or behavior-driven testing. Additionally, you could use a test orchestration tool to integrate with other systems or applications to coordinate or trigger the test executions. You could also use a test data management tool to create or maintain the test data in a consistent and reusable way. Finally, you could use a test reporting tool to produce or display the test metrics or the test insights in a clear and comprehensive way.

5 Review the test dependencies

The final step is to periodically review the test dependencies, or after each UAT cycle, to evaluate their effectiveness and relevance, as well as identify any gaps or improvements. This can help you assess the quality and coverage of the UAT and product, identify issues or risks that may affect them, and learn from feedback or lessons learned. Various methods can be used to review the test dependencies, such as conducting a post-mortem analysis or retrospective meeting to review their impact, collecting feedback from testers and stakeholders on their satisfaction, comparing them against best practices or industry standards, and updating or documenting them for future reference or reuse.