User Acceptance Test (UAT)

I am Max and since more than a decade I find Bugs that could cost a lot of money.

User Acceptance Test (UAT)

The User Acceptance Test (UAT) is one or the last phase of Software Development. It is crucial to decide on whether to go live with a new Version or not. In the following, I am going to explain why this step is important, how it can or should be done, what best practices there are and how one can avoid typical pit falls.

What is a User Acceptance Test (UAT)?

A User Acceptance Test (UAT) is the phase of software development in which end users test the application to check whether it meets their requirements in terms of functionality and ergonomics. The aim is to ensure that the software is ready for actual use before it is rolled out to all users.

Aims of the UAT

Checking the business requirements: Checking whether the software effectively fulfills the intended task.
Identification of problems: Recognizing errors that were overlooked during development or testing.
Validation of user-friendliness: Checking usability from the end user's perspective.
Release decision: Clarification of whether the software can be transferred to productive operation.

Differences between UAT and other Test Types

UAT differs significantly from other test stages in software development:

Unit tests: Test individual code units (functions, methods) in isolation.
Integration tests: Check whether various components interact correctly.
System tests: Check the entire system for technical and functional requirements.
User Acceptance Test: Validates whether the software meets the business requirements and is accepted by real users.

Who is responsible for the UAT?

The responsibility for the UAT typically lies with:

Departments and end users: They test whether the software meets their business requirements.
Product owners or business analysts: Support the testing process and ensure that the right tests are carried out.
Quality Assurance (QA) teams: Help with the organization and documentation of test results.

Procedure of a UAT

A successful UAT requires a structured approach. Here are the most important steps:

Planning the UAT

Before the test begins, clear objectives must be defined and test cases created.

Definition of the test objectives: Which business processes are to be tested?
Identification of the test data: Use of realistic data for practical tests.
Defining the test environment: Setting up an environment that simulates the production conditions.
Selection of test participants: End users who will actually use the software later.
Time frame: All persons involved in the test must be assigned to this task for the appropriate time.

Creation of the UAT Test Cases

Test cases should be based on real usage scenarios.

Formulate test cases: Description of the steps to be performed and expected results.
Prioritization: Test important business processes first so that the bug fixes can be retested in any case.
Documenting test scripts: Provide detailed instructions for testers.

UAT Execution

The testers carry out the planned test cases and document the results.

Record error messages: Detailed description of problems.
Obtain feedback: Direct feedback from testers on user-friendliness.
Make adjustments: The engineers fix detected errors so that the associated patches can be tested again.

Evaluation & Release Approval

Once the test has been completed, the results are analyzed.

Evaluation of the test results: Have all business-critical processes been successfully tested?
Release decision: If there are no serious problems, the software can be put into operation.

Best Practices for a Successful UAT

A structured UAT can help to avoid unexpected problems. To ensure that the time invested yields the best return, you should pay particular attention to the following:

1. Define clear Acceptance Criteria

As early as the requirements phase, it is important to correctly define success as such: What should be paid particular attention to? Does the software feel ergonomic to use? Is the menu navigation logical and understandable? Are technically correct results generated? The testers should be explicitly briefed on these questions so that they pay attention to the essentials.

2. Early Involvement of Users

Users should be involved in the test process at an early stage in order to better understand their requirements and expectations. It is best to do this even before the actual test.

3. Realistic Test Data

The use of real or realistic data ensures practical tests. Important here: Data protection (e.g. in accordance with the European General Data Protection Regulation) must be guaranteed. The use of productive data as test data may cause legal problems under certain circumstances, so effective anonymization should be ensured if this approach is chosen. On the safe side here is synthetically generated test data that is based on real user profiles. However, this comes with the trade-off that the data may not capture all edge cases that occur in reality. In individual cases, I recommend a data protection check.

4. Documentation and Prioritisation of Test Cases

Each test case should be documented in detail and prioritized according to business importance. It should be noted that bug fixes also take time. If business-critical errors are therefore found early, the associated bug fixes can be rolled out first so that there is enough time for a re-test. Less important test cases can then be deprioritized or even omitted if necessary. For a corresponding decision, coordination should be sought not only with the stakeholders, but also with the development team, as this may have important insights for prioritization.

5. Effective Communication

A close exchange between testers, developers and project managers is essential for rapid problem solving.

6. Test Automation

Repetitive tasks should be recorded so that it can later be assessed whether automation makes economic sense. I am happy to help with this assessment.

7. Do not Test on Production!

Because this is an extremely common error, I would like to emphasize its importance once again: It should NEVER be tested for production. Business-critical systems are usually embedded in a complex context and send and receive data or are exposed to user interaction or even attacks. All this not only reduces the validity of the test results, it can also trigger business incidents that can become really expensive in case of doubt, especially if the system is handled relatively carelessly in the test (which should also be part of the aim of the test). To avoid these costs, I generally recommend setting up a test environment close to production, which is completely isolated in itself.

Challenges in a UAT

With a complex undertaking such as a UAT, there are inevitably some problems from time to time, but these can be avoided with appropriate care:

Unclear Requirements

Problem: Test cases are based on unclear or changing requirements.

Solution: Clarify and document requirements with all stakeholders at an early stage. A process should be defined for changes that arise at short notice if this happens frequently in practice.

Lack of Testing Knowledge

Problem: Testers are not professional QA experts.

Solution: Provide clear instructions and training. I am happy to help with this.

Lack of Time

Problem: Testers often have other main tasks and little time for the UAT.

Solution: Plan tests in smaller units and integrate them into regular work processes.

No Test Environment

Problem: The test environment is either not available at all or does not sufficiently reflect the production instance.

Solution: Ensure that the test environment is as close as possible to Production. I am aware that this entails costs. However, these should be seen as an investment: With a clean setup, it is possible in the future to either reuse the test environment or, in the best case, even make it universal so that separate instances can be started for future tests. The benefit of such a solution is incomparably higher because it is possible to react very flexibly to changing requirements.

Conclusion

User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is an essential phase in software development that ensures that the developed application meets business requirements. By following a structured approach, working closely with end users and following best practices, companies can ensure that their software works smoothly and meets user expectations. A well-executed UAT reduces the risk of problems after go-live and contributes significantly to the success of a software project. Companies should therefore ensure that they plan sufficient time and resources for this important test phase.

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