Why Is Testing Stage of Sdlc so Important?

Why is the testing stage of systems development so important?
November 2012

Introduction
• Systems Development Lifecycle
• Types of SDLC
• Stages of SDLC

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Waterfall method
Testing
Programme Testing
Acceptance Testing
Limitations of Testing
Case Study 1: University of Salford
Case Study 2: Knight Capital Group
Summary
Conclusion
References

Systems Development Lifecycle
• Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is the process of developing information systems through various stages from identifying initial requirements through analysis, design, testing, implementation and maintenance.
• Many different models but each generally consists of a series of defined steps or stages.

Laudon & Laudon (2006)

Types of SDLC
• Waterfall
• Fountain
• Spiral
• Rapid prototyping
• Incremental

Bocij et al (2006)

Waterfall
• One of the oldest, best known

• Linear sequential set of phases

• Review at end of each phase before moving on to the next
• Logical chain of events, e.g. programming cannot begin until specification completed

• Many different versions
• Many critics – does not work?

Laplante & Neill (2004) Dennis et al (2008)

Stages of SDLC
Vary according to the methodology used but usually some variation of the waterfall method which has
Galin (2004) served as a framework for others.
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Systems analysis - identify problems & establish requirements

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Systems Design – create design specifications

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Programming - translate design specification into code

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Testing

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Conversion – plan conversion, train users

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Production & Maintenance – operate, evaluate and

modify the system
Laudon & Laudon (2006)

Testing
Why test? System should be tested to ensure that it meets the requirements laid out at the start of the process.

• Develop a test plan
• Involve users as well as developers
• Simulate data and test system processes e.g.
entering

References: Cervone, H.F. (2007),"The system development life cycle and digital library development", O CLC Systems & Services, Vol Detterman, E. (2012) “Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Case Study – Result = $440m Loss.” Solid Logic Technology Galin, D. (2004) Software Quality Assurance: from theory to implementation. Harlow: Pearson Education Laplante, P.A Laudon, K.C. and Laudon, J.P. (2006) Essentials of Management Information Systems: Organization and Technology in the Networked Enterprise, ninth ed., New Jersey: Prentice-Hall Morris, S., (2005) “Software Development Cycle”, Tessella Support Services plc, available at < http://www.tessella.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/softwaredevelopmentcycle.pdf>