NVP Software Solutions

Author: Neil

  • 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!

  • Struggling with Software Testing?

    Businesses, organizations and corporations purchase software in hopes of bettering existing processes, but sometimes the data is suspect and manual processes have to be put in place to fix errors caused by the new software tools. If software was implemented to help you operate more efficiently and grow as an organization, why is your new software slowing you down? Perhaps it’s time to look to your software testing team! (more…)

  • JobBOSS Certification under ISO 13485 and FDA QS 21 Parts 11 and 820

    Software like JobBOSS is an integral part of many shop processes.  While it may not be as ‘visible’ or ‘apparent’ in many situations, it is often key to scheduling, controling, recording, and maintaining many of the results of work completed in various shops.

    As a result, regulatory agencies like the FDA and ISO require proof that the software is in compliance with regulations like FDA Quality Systems regulation 21 Parts 11 and 820 and ISO 13485 if the products from the machine shop are used for registered industries.  Your surveillance audits, and the client audits that are requested by customers to ensure that the supplying shop is in compliance, may include the software such as JobBOSS.  The audit pertains to the actual use of the software in the shop, including installation, maintenance, and upgrade processes.  The auditor looks for proof of due diligence with regard to the above processes and requires proof from the audited organisation.  In software, this proof generally takes the form of screen shots showing unchanged behaviour in major functionality after upgrades have occurred, and various supporting reports and documents.  This constitutes a Quality Assurance program for the software.  The auditor examines these proofs and evidence of the Quality Assurance program to provide a Pass on the audit.

    If you have a concern about passing an audit for JobBOSS or have had an audit that has resulted in an NC rating, take a look at our service  to see what can be done and how it can help you pass an audit.  Contact us to follow up.

     

    NVP has generated and maintains a regression package for JobBOSS to help organisations pass the audit.  Since it is already built, the cost is restricted to customising it for your situation and gathering up the artifacts as proof.  The cost of updating is borne by NVP.

  • Reduce Business Risk with QA

    The software your business relies on to operate successfully is crutial to the success of your company. Software RISK (a potential problem that may occur due to lack of information, control or time) is something that should be minimized wherever possible when it comes to your daily business operations.
    (more…)

  • Upcoming Course – Essentials of Leadership in Software Testing

     

    Happening October 20 – 21 in Toronto, Canada this 2-day course offers solutions and techniques available to Test Leads and QA Managers in the challenges they face in managing Quality Assurance and Testing within their organizations. (more…)

  • Quality Assurance for Startups

    Quality Assurance for Startups sounds like a bit of an oxymoron. Startup companies and leaders have enough on their mind without adding that ‘horribly slow and stodgy Quality Assurance Process’ to the mix.

    This concept is wrong for a number of reasons:

    1. Quality Assurance is never about being slow or bringing the process to a halt. It’s all about speeding up delivery of whatever you are supplying.
    2. Set up good processes at the start of your business and make improvements that have the biggest return, before bad or wasteful habits become entrenched.
    3. A startup needs to provide a product or service that ‘delights the final customer’. A product or service that falls short in some makes for a short-lived company.

    What does a startup need from Quality Assurance? Just enough to make the final deliverable delight the customer!

    So what should you have?:

    1. Processes that ensure feedback from the customers is received.
    2. Sufficient information about the way the deliverable was constructed so that feedback can be actioned.
    3. Assurance that the changes made will not impact existing functionality adversely.
    4. Consideration of how to implement future growth opportunities.

    Of the above list, the last two are the more important.

    We generally would consider the third point to be a form of regression testing and the earlier that is planned and implemented, the cheaper it is. However, it is often left (as we can personally testify) to a later release and the startup spends thousands of hours and a lot of funding retroactively forcing in regression testing. Minimal consideration of the possibility of needing this will SAVE A LOT later on.

    The fourth point above is slightly more difficult to apply since it requires some anticipation of future needs based on limited information. We will leave that one for next week.