Enterprise software is complex, dynamic, and often mission-critical for businesses. Testing it effectively requires a systematic and rigorous approach to identify and prioritize defects that could affect its functionality, performance, security, and usability. In this article, you will learn some of the key steps and techniques to identify defects when testing enterprise software.
The first step to identify defects is to define the scope and criteria of the testing process. This involves determining the features, functions, and requirements of the software, as well as the expected outcomes, standards, and metrics of quality. You should also identify the stakeholders, users, and environments involved in the testing, and the risks and constraints that could affect the testing results. Defining the scope and criteria will help you to plan and design the testing strategy, and to establish the baseline for defect identification.
Typically, an enterprise platform has well defined features and functions for which the vendor assumes quality control, but customisations and especially application integration falls outside of their remit. Ensuring the scope of testing concentrates on aspects you are responsible for seems obvious, but it is often overlooked because business users are focusing on the functions that matter for their job and not the upstream / downstream implications and consequences arising from the transactions they process.
The next step is to choose the appropriate testing methods and tools for the software. There are different types of testing methods, such as unit testing, integration testing, system testing, acceptance testing, regression testing, and performance testing, that can be applied at different stages of the software development lifecycle. You should select the testing methods that match the software's characteristics, objectives, and complexity, and that can cover the most critical and relevant aspects of the software. You should also choose the testing tools that can support the testing methods, such as automation tools, test management tools, defect tracking tools, and debugging tools.
In our enterprise-grade React app development, doing automation testing is a part of daily work. We employ a testing pyramid strategy: - A bit of manual testing - Cover "happy paths" with E2E/M tests - Most of the user journeys using integration tests - Business logic using unit tests
The third step is to execute the testing plan according to the scope, criteria, methods, and tools defined in the previous steps. This involves preparing the test cases, test data, test scripts, and test environments, and running the tests on the software. You should follow the testing standards and best practices, and document the testing activities and results. You should also monitor and control the testing process, and adjust the testing plan if needed.
The fourth step is to analyze the testing results and identify the defects. This involves comparing the actual outcomes of the tests with the expected outcomes, and detecting any deviations, errors, failures, or anomalies in the software. You should also classify and prioritize the defects based on their severity, impact, frequency, and root cause. You should use the defect tracking tools to record and report the defects, and to track their status and resolution.
The fifth step is to perform root cause analysis on the defects. This involves investigating and identifying the underlying causes of the defects, such as design flaws, coding errors, configuration issues, or external factors. You should use the debugging tools and techniques, such as breakpoints, logs, traces, or dumps, to isolate and diagnose the defects. You should also use the root cause analysis tools and methods, such as fishbone diagrams, 5 whys, or Pareto charts, to analyze and visualize the causes of the defects.
The final step is to implement corrective actions to fix the defects. This involves modifying, updating, or enhancing the software code, design, or configuration, to eliminate or reduce the defects. You should also verify and validate the corrective actions, and retest the software to ensure that the defects are resolved, and that no new defects are introduced. You should also communicate and collaborate with the stakeholders, users, and developers, to ensure that the corrective actions are aligned with the software requirements and expectations.
Hypercare! Like change management and user training, it is often truncated (or eliminated entirely) when implementation and integration overruns eat into the budget toward the end of the project. But it is where you hold the vendor's feet to the fire and ensure your high impact issues are resolved before the application is signed off in production. Prematurely introducing an enterprise application into the business is more costly than paying for hypercare, and if your project accounting does not recognise this, you need to review your PMO practices and properly attribute your cost and benefit realisation methodology.
I feel that including BAT and UAT are also critical to any quality process. This helps ensure functionality aligns to customer expectations, identify product usage process issues, and validate any documentation that may have been created.