Concepts
One of the key roles of a Professional in Business Analysis (PBA) under the Project Management Institute (PMI) is to validate the solution’s test results, reports, and other test evidence against the requirements acceptance criteria. This process is integral to determine whether the proposed solution indeed satisfies the established requirements. Below we delve into this aspect in greater depth.
1. Understanding the Acceptance Criteria:
To begin the process, it’s vital first to understand the acceptance criteria thoroughly. They are the conditions that a software product must meet to be accepted by a user, a customer, or other stakeholders. It applies identically to project management and business analysis. The acceptance criteria must be explicit, measurable, and capable of being tested and should be added to the user story, requirement, or project objective during its creation.
2. Process of Validation:
The validation process is a systematic approach used by PMI-PBAs to ensure that the product or solution aligns well with the requirements, acceptance criteria, and stakeholders’ expectations.
- The first step is to develop a suite of test cases and scenarios based on the acceptance criteria. Each test case must focus on a specific requirement and include input conditions, expected results, and execution preconditions.
- The second step involves the execution of these test cases and capturing the results, reporting any discrepancies found during the initial test run.
- The third step is to compare the captured test results against the acceptance criteria. Any discrepancies between the expected and actual outcome should be flagged.
- The final stepinvolves the review of the discrepancies found, retesting if needed, and determination of whether the solution satisfies the set requirements.
3. Example of Validation process:
Let’s say a client wants a web application for his retail store with a requirement that users can easily navigate through product categories. The acceptance criteria could include “The application’s homepage must include visible direct links to main product categories”.
During tests, the business analyst can validate whether this requirement is met by reviewing the application’s User Interface (UI). If the direct links are not visible on the homepage or if users have a hard time finding them, then the solution fails to meet the original requirement, necessitating changes to the design.
4. Essential Tools for Validation:
Tools such as requirement traceability matrix (RTM) are often used. RTM is a tool to ensure that all project requirements are met. It provides a structured way to track requirements through the project lifecycle and validate whether the requirements are met in the final product.
5. Conclusion:
In conclusion, validating the solution against the requirements acceptance criteria is a comprehensive and iterative process within the scope of PMI-PBA that ensures a solution that accurately satisfies the stakeholders’ demands and ultimately increases the value of the project or product. Following this methodology ensures that the product’s performance aligns with the initial requirements, thus reducing the need for modifications after development, leading to efficient and successful project completions.
Remember, the Professional in Business Analysis (PMI-PBA) certification emphasizes the importance of value delivery over requirements management. It means not just to collect and manage requirements, but to ensure that the project delivers the highest expected business value. Validating solutions against requirements acceptance is an integral part of achieving this goal.
Answer the Questions in Comment Section
True or False: Validating the solution’s test results against the requirements acceptance criteria is unnecessary in business analysis.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Validating test results against the criteria is crucial in business analysis to ensure that the implemented solution satisfies the requirements.
What are the available options to validate the solution against the acceptance criteria?
- A. Review test results
- B. Conduct user acceptance testing
- C. Wait for solution deployment
- D. Both A and B
Answer: D. Both A and B
Explanation: Business Analysts can review test results and conduct user acceptance testing to validate the solution.
Does the process of validating the solution’s test results help in risk mitigation?
- A. Yes
- B. No
Answer: A. Yes
Explanation: Validating the results helps identify any discrepancies early and therefore aids in risk mitigation.
For a solution to be considered successful, it just needs to fulfill the functional requirements. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While functional requirements are important, non-functional requirements such as performance, security, and usability are also essential for the solution’s success.
What is the main objective of validating the solution’s test results against the requirements acceptance criteria?
- A. To satisfy stakeholders
- B. To ensure the solution satisfies the requirements
- C. To test the functionality of the software
- D. To find defects in the solution
Answer: B. To ensure the solution satisfies the requirements
Explanation: The main aim of the process is to ensure the solution meets the business requirements and acceptance criteria.
True or False: User Acceptance Testing (UAT) is irrelevant in the solution validation process.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: UAT is a crucial part of the solution validation process as it verifies the solution against real-world scenarios and use cases.
The validation process starts immediately after the requirements are defined. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The validation process starts once the solution has been developed and tested. It’s aimed at determining whether the developed solution meets the requirements.
Who is mainly responsible for validating the solution’s test results?
- A. Project Manager
- B. Business Analyst
- C. Developer
- D. Stakeholder
Answer: B. Business Analyst
Explanation: A Business Analyst takes the lead in validating the solution’s test results to ensure the solution satisfies the requirements.
The acceptance criteria should be ambiguous for better solution validation. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Acceptance criteria should be clear and concise. Ambiguous criteria might lead to misinterpretations and erroneous validation.
Validating the solution’s test results, reports, and other test evidence helps in:
- A. Managing project budget
- B. Managing project scope
- C. Managing project resources
- D. Ensuring solution aligns with requirements
Answer: D. Ensuring solution aligns with requirements
Explanation: The validation process is aimed at confirming that the solution being implemented aligns with the business requirements and acceptance criteria.
In a software development project, all bugs should be fixed before the solution’s test results are validated. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While fixing all bugs is desirable, it is not a precondition for validation. Some minor bugs might be acceptable in the context of the solution and requirements.
The validation results serve as an input for the evaluation of the final solution. True/False?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The validation results provide valuable insights into the performance of the solution against the acceptance criteria, and are therefore important for the final evaluation.
Great post! Validating test results is crucial for ensuring the solution aligns with the requirements.
I found this blog post very informative. It’s critical to cross-check the test evidence with the acceptance criteria.
Very useful insights. How do you handle discrepancies found during validation?
I appreciate the detailed explanation on validating test reports!
What tools do you recommend for validation of test results against acceptance criteria?
Thank you for the useful post.
Does anyone know the best practices for reporting test results?
I found this blog post to be very insightful in understanding the importance of validating test results against the acceptance criteria.