Workflow Detail: Manage Acceptance Test
| The purpose of this workflow detail is to ensure that the product is deemed acceptable to the customer prior to its general release. | |
| Topics - Description - Related Information - Timing - Optionality - How to Staff - Work Guidelines |
Description
The Deployment Manager organizes the installation of the product on one or more Test Environment Configurations that represents an environment acceptable to the customer as specified in the Product Acceptance Plan. In some cases, this environment will actually be the production deployment environment itself.
In some cases, the installation process itself may involve be subject to an acceptance test, as may any preceding hardware upgrades and configurations.
Once installed, the Tester typically runs through a preselected set of tests-usually based on a selected subset of the existing Test Suites-and determines the Test Results. The Deployment Manager and other stakeholders review the Test Results for anomalies. If there are “show stoppers”, the Deployment Manager raises Change Requests that require immediate attention and resolution, and may delay or postpone subsequent plans for deployment to a wider user base.
Related Information
This section provides links to additional information related to this workflow detail.
Timing
This work is generally performed in Construction and Transition, typically starting later into construction. In some exceptional cases, acceptance testing may be useful in Elaboration iterations. Within an iteration, it is typically conducted later in the iteration on a more mature software build.
Optionality
In most cases, software will either be acceptance tested in some or beta tested by target end-users. Note however that where acceptance testing is performed, the formality of that testing will differ to suit the project context.
How to Staff
A Deployment Manager needs to be someone who is aware of the operational needs of the end user and capable of enabling a valid assessment of the product in a suitable environment. Pulling together all the many items, events and resources required for a successful acceptance test requires exceptional planning an organization skills.
Work Guidelines
See the Related Information section for additional guidance that will help you in performing this work.