Managing Software Deliverables: A Software Development Management Methodology

The purpose of the UAT is to verify the total system solution and ensure that it satisfies the original business requirements. It should verify that all of the automated and manual components of the system work properly. Users (ideally, the most knowledgeable representatives from within the user community) should write most of these test plans. These users will often contract outside sources to help them develop a solid UAT. The SPMO must ensure that the outside sources develop such deliverables in conjunction with the guidelines established by the SEP guidelines and the SPMO. The UAT construction team should take into consideration each of the following areas:

• Automated processes with their input/output requirements

• Backup, recover, and restart processes

• Compatibility issues

• Control issues (e.g., user, system, data environment, outside sources)

• Conversion issues

• Documentation issues

• External system specifications and related nonfunctional specifications

• Functional tests

• Interfaces with other systems

• Manual procedures

• Performance expectations

• Screen dialogue (e.g., form, aesthetics, language, symbols)

• Security issues

• Storage issues

• Stress testing (should dovetail the Stress Test Plan)

• System interface tests

• Usability issues

• Volume (defaults, min, max)