Utilizing Vendor Scripts for Successful User Acceptance Testing
Computer system validation (CSV) is a documented process which helps to ensure that both new and existing computer systems consistently fulfill their intended purpose and produce accurate and reliable data. Most regulatory agencies around the world require validation of computer systems to ensure product safety and effectiveness. The software implementation and development team typically conducts CSV processes on the system being installed/updated to eliminate any software bugs and make sure the system meets specifications.
Another important part of validating a computer system is User Acceptance Testing (UAT). UAT is performed by users familiar with the business requirements, typically after the functional, system and regression testing are completed. That said, the process for UAT varies widely across organizations and industry. Some organizations perform UAT right along with the other types of validation testing as part of the development process. This as-you-go methodology helps to get buy-in from the users on what is being developed and can sometimes be translated into usable validation scripts.
Some organizations make the mistake of not conducting UAT at all, while others simply have users repeat the functional testing conducted by the development team, essentially revalidating the system after the development team does. The bottom line is that UAT provides an important opportunity for users to check that the system developers have properly interpreted and implemented the functional requirements for a computer system prior to system rollout.
Many organizations realize the importance of UAT only after suffering financial losses associated with misconstrued requirements. Given that the cost of fixing software defects after release is many times greater than fixing these issues during development, it is critical that UAT be done properly. In this blog, we will discuss UAT best practices, including the use of vendor test scripts, to ensure a successful go-live event.
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