3- Testing and development

A test plan is usually written whilst the system is being developed. The test plan will contain details of every single thing that needs to be tested.

A typical test would contain:

• Details of what is being tested
• The test data to use
• What is expected to happen when the test is performed

When is the System Tested?

Testing is normally done in two stages...

The first phase of testing is done by the designers and engineers who created the system, usually before the system is delivered to the customer.

The test data that is used in this first phase is similar to data that would be used by the actual customer.

The second phase of testing is done after the system has been delivered and installed with the customer.

The data used in the second phase is usually 'live' data - data that is actually part of the customer's business / organisation.What Happens if the System Fails Some Tests?

The whole point of testing is to try and find areas that don't work as they should, or areas that can be improved.

If any failures are found, the systems analyst goes back and does some further research, analysis and design to fix these areas.