NVP Software Solutions

Author: Neil

  • Quality Assurance for Packaged Software

    There has been a large change in the last decade in how software is built and used. With the ability for anyone to build an app and market it, many organisations have realised that it is ‘easier to buy than build’. There are unique applications that are still being built (many of them) but for regular business functions and even some unique business functions it is often better and more effective to buy. A lot more functionality is available in the purchased package than could be built internally for the same cost.

    However the end result of this is that the Quality Assurance and testing aspects are frequently overlooked because they should have been taken care of by the vendor. However, most EULAs do not provide any assurance that the product works or provides valid results or information. Usually they state the opposite, there is absolutely no promise made of any ability to rely on the results. Thus you are on your own for the Quality Assurance (‘QA cannot be outsourced’).

    What tends to be overlooked in the rush to acquire the package is that considerations for QA need to be made at the time the purchase is being considered. They become part of the contract or requirements to ensure that the package is most of the way to fulfilling our needs before it arrives on site. We don’t want to be in the position of trying to change a package after it has already been purchased.

    Take a look at some of the seminars that we offer that address this situation and see if they apply to your situation. Considering the Quality Assurance and testing aspects early can save you a lot of effort, time and funds later on.

    Contact us for further information.

  • Upcoming Events – January and February 2018

     

    NVP Software Solutions will be participating in the following software testing and quality assurance events happening this January in Ontario, Canada. The events are located in Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo and London in the coming two weeks. Check out the relevant websites for more information and to register. This is a great opportunity to connect with other software testing and quality assurance professionals. We hope to see you there! (more…)

  • Toronto based Courses for February 2018

    The following courses are being offered in Toronto in February 2018.

    1. Test Leadership
    2. Manager’s Test Planning
    3. Boot Camp for Testers

    Courses will be repeated in April and October of 2018.

    Registration is available at nvp.ca/training

  • Courses for 2018

    Enrolment for Winter 2018courses on the following topics is still open:

    1. Test Leadership
    2. Manager’s Test Planning
    3. Effective Software Testing
    4. Boot Camp for Testers
    5. CSTE Certification Training
    6. CSQA Certification Training
    7. CAST Certification Training
    8. Other courses on request

    Courses are continuing from January to June 2018.

    Take your opportunity to get training created by experts in the field. Make 2018 your best Quality Assurance year by being prepared and ready for whatever might come your way in terms of Software Testing or Quality Assurance.

    Quality Assurance is not just a solution to a technical software problem. It is a consideration for the entire business. Software Quality Assurance failures impact the entire business and can lead to large problems if not addressed.

    Training testers using NVP supplied courses provides testers with the techniques, tools, and knowledge to select the best method for testing – not the one that has been used for the last 15 years that’s falling short!

    When you work with an experienced software testing trainer you benefit by:

    • Creating more valuable employees that pays back more than investments
      in any test tool!
    • Getting real value from testing
    • Enhancing speed, accuracy and results from your testing processes
    • Seeing larger profits

    Quality assurance training is a great way to help ensure your systems are working for you while supporting and contributing to the growth of your company.

    Let us know if we can help!

  • Selecting Software to run your business – 3

    Implementation is by far the most interesting and challenging part of Selecting Software to run your business. This is where the details become major problems and resistance to change can derail the entire project.

    It is crucial to do the following:

    1. Get everyone on side.
    2. Get a champion (or champions).
    3. Anticipate the issues.
    4. Address the issues (before they become problems).
    5. Start small (if possible).
    6. Demonstrate successes.
    7. Roll out to the entire company

    Many solution packages look simple on the outside but turn out to be complex to implement and maintain. Others have hidden depths you will never use while others will disappoint you. The selection process is crucial to anticipate some of these issues and make provisions to address them.

    No matter what package is selected or what deployment process is used; at some point the implementation must go ahead or else it will never occur.

    A study from some years ago provided the following figures for software that was purchased to be implemented:

    1. Software Delivered but never successfully used – 47% of the total.
    2. Software paid for but not delivered – 29% of the total.
    3. Software used but extensively reworked or later abandoned – 19% of the total.
    4. Software that could be used after changes – 3% of the total.
    5. Software that could be used as delivered – 2% of the total.

    Implementations have to fall into that 2% to be fully succesful and within the 5% to be partially sucessful. These are not high odds and to be successful requires a correct deployment process throughout the organisation.

    If you have concerns about any of the three stages (Stage 1 and Stage 2 were described in earlier blogs) of acquiring and implementing software – call us at 1-800-811-4718 or contact us.

    We are here to help.

  • Selecting Software to run your business – 2

    As mentioned in the last blog, there is any number of packages that are available to do some or all of what you want the business to do. Whether that is to track Goods-in-Transit, Maintain Financial Records, Generate a Sales Catalogue, Create and send an email blast, Retain Customer Information, Track needed Repairs or Write a Document, there are many choices and all the choices have their advantages and disadvantages. Some are cheap, others expensive. Some provide functionality you will never use, others will leave you wishing the software did more.

    If you are facing this conundrum, there is a solution. There are methods to evaluate what you need, then to evaluate what is available and then to finally bring the two together to make a quantified decision about what to buy (or build).

    The high level process is:

      1. Survey all the areas in your organisation that will be affected by the new software.
      2. Document the stated requirements from each group and give them weights (example follows).
        • Must have = 5.

          • Note: Any technical requirements that cannot be changed are given a 5 or you can simply set them up as initial questions and remove anyone not matching them.

        • Should have = 4.
        • Nice to have = 3.
        • Minimal need = 2.
        • Unimportant = 1.
        • Not relevant = 0.
      3. Create a scorecard based on the above.
      4. Survey the existing tools (there are many sites on the internet).
      5. Select the top 4 and bring in the vendors for a demonstration.
      6. Fill in the scorecard.
      7. Bring in the two highest scorers for a more indepth presentation.
      8. Make your selection knowing with certainty that you have made the best choice.

      Now comes the more interesting part: Implementation. That is a subject for the next blog.

  • Selecting Software to run your business

    We recently spoke to a municipality about their current IT practices and came away with several interesting pieces of information that point to the probable future of a lot of the software industry. (more…)

  • Still time to Enrol for Fall 2017

    Enrolment for Fall 2017 courses on the following topics is still open:

    1. Test Leadership
    2. Manager’s Test Planning
    3. Effective Software Testing
    4. Boot Camp for Testers
    5. CSTE Certification Training
    6. CSQA Certification Training
    7. CAST Certification Training
    8. Other courses on request

    Courses are continuing from September to November of 2017.

    Take your opportunity to get training created by experts in the field. Make 2018 your best Quality Assurance year by being prepared and ready for whatever might come your way in terms of Software Testing or Quality Assurance. Waiting to next year puts you behind when a problem does occur.

    Quality Assurance is not just a solution to a technical software problem. It is a consideration for the entire business. Software Quality Assurance failures impact the entire business and can lead to large problems if not addressed.

    Training testers using NVP supplied courses provides testers with the techniques, tools, and knowledge to select the best method for testing – not the one that has been used for the last 15 years that’s falling short!

    When you work with an experienced software testing trainer you benefit by:

    • Creating more valuable employees that pays back more than investments
      in any test tool!
    • Getting real value from testing
    • Enhancing speed, accuracy and results from your testing processes
    • Seeing larger profits

    Quality assurance training is a great way to help ensure your systems are working for you while supporting and contributing to the growth of your company.

    Let us know if we can help!