NVP Software Solutions

Tag: software testing

  • Is your testing Ad hoc?

    Is your testing Ad hoc?

    While most people won’t come out and say that their testing is Ad Hoc, it can usually be inferred from some of the following comments:

    1. We keep redoing things.

    2. We seem to lose everything with every iteration.

    3. We keep re-inventing the wheel.

    4. We have thousands of testcases and most of them have not been looked at in years.

    5. We miss things in every release even though we saw them in the past.

    6. We keep solving the same problems in development.

    And on the list goes.

    If you feel you are stuck in this rut, it is time to break out

    .

    But that requires a fresh look at the following items:

    * Current assets

    * Current processes

    * Missing pieces

    * Left over items and problems. Breaking out of Ad Hoc testing is very difficult. Process improvement is resisted on many levels.

  • What do Test Managers do in a project?

    What do Test Managers do in a project?

    There would be an obvious answer to that question if one replaced the word Test with the word Project. So, if we transfer in reverse the answer is the same. Since we had to answer this question …

    Please take a look at Case Study 11: https://nvp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Case Study 12.pdf  for an answer to this question.

  • Resources

    Resources

    Resources are always a problem in projects. You may have too many at one point, too few at another point and the skills may be mismatched even if the number matches to what you estimated. Issue The client was expanding rapidly in a new industry. Two large organizations in a related industry had already started divisions to address this market but we were dealing with a new and much younger company.

    Please take a look at Case Study 9: https://nvp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Case-Study-9-Resources.pdf to see how the process was managed.

  • Designing Testing

    Designing Testing

    Frequently organizations grow concerned about their Quality Assurance Processes. They are not sure if they are using the best processes for their testing. Everything has been internally built with little input from outside the organization. Over time the isolation may lead to inefficient processes. There may not be an awareness of what has changed and how it might impact their work habits.

    Please take a look at Case Study 7: https://nvp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Case-Study-7-Consulting.pdf to see how the process was redesigned.

  • Regulatory Approval

    Regulatory Approval

    An NCR (Non-Conformance Report) from an Audit is the last thing anyone wants to see. Especially if you are not familiar with how to handle it. Your business is in production of high precision parts, or providing groceries to consumers, or a business-to-business solution. The last thing you need is an auditor asking questions about your software processes.

    Please take a look at Case Study 3: https://nvp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Case-Study-3.pdf for how an NCR was resolved in one case.

  • Test Leadership

    The role of a Test Lead varies widely between organisations and even within some large organisations. Some test leads execute a plan, other build and manage and some run multiple projects with other test leads running particular aspects.  If you are in this position, you may be wondering what to do. 

    Please take a look at Case Study 2: https://nvp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Case-Study-2.pdf for how training was organised in one particular example.

  • Requirements

    Requirements

    While iterative methodologies do not expect full requirements at the beginning of a project, it may still be critical to eventually capture the entire set of requirements. Traceability between testing and requirements has become popular recently to provide auditability.

    Please see https://nvp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Case-Study-8-Requirements.pdf for an example Case Study.

  • Bridging the Gap

    Bridging the Gap

    Bridging the Gap between vendors and the final client can be difficult for a System Integrator. It is one thing to actually make the decision, purchase the software, integrate the software and deliver it. It is very much another situation when you come to the various levels of testing and need to coordinate multiple vendors, one System Integrator, and a client with multiple departments with differing needs.

    Please take a look at the Case Study 1 : https://nvp.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Case-Study-1.pdf for one occurrence.