For businesses that deal with generating software, one of the most critical phases is user acceptance testing (UAT). This is the stage where the bugs are identified and worked out before it is actually released to the public. In many cases this step can make or break a business.
It's actually been around for the past 20 years or so, but was known by many different names and was often conducted in-house. Today Internet businesses specialize in this type of evaluation for new software in order to ensure that they work well before they are released. Although not as thorough as systems and integration testing, this test are still rigorous by industry standards.
To begin, business stakeholders must establish the criteria by which the software will be compared. As a result, they work collaboratively in the design and planning of UAT procedures, as well as when establishing the standards by which it will be measured. During the process, these individuals come to advocate for its use and espouse its virtues whenever the opportunity arises.
This test also demonstrates the benefits of the product while establishing objectives for its marketing and release and guides future research. It's important to remember that product development has many steps. This is one of the final steps. However, the potential application, limitations, and bugs found can help reduce future problems.
A great way to achieve this goal is by conducting a focus group prior to moving into the test phase. During this stage a group of users tries out the new software, identifies problems, and then makes suggestions to enhance it. This also serves to ensure that the product meets consumer needs.
The best advantage of this type of test is that, once the product is released, no surprises will result that send the company into crisis mode. Because of the collaborate process it also ensures that stakeholders become accepting of the product before release. Additionally, it is much less time-consuming and is much more cost-effective than other testing options.
As with any product design, it must reflect the needs of users. Once released, if it doesn't work as predicted, businesses won't be able to use it. The end result through user acceptance testing is that consumers will come to understand how the products work and will gain the confidence needed when using it to ensure that it becomes a brand name.
Norman Philips is a business consultant and real estate investor. For more information on user acceptance testing, visit www.piersonrequirementsgroup.com.