Enterprise Applications Testing –

Leverage the Power of Objectivity

For Enterprise Systems Project Here it is important to view each process as
Organizations, a well executed Quality an assembly line with the output being the
Assurance (specifically testing) function acts successful completion of a transaction and
as a force-multiplier, the most effective way throughput time determining application
to win end-user confidence lock, stock and efficiency. An automated tool is immensely
barrel. Increasingly, enterprise testing has helpful here. However, when defining your
become harder to execute not for lack of performance-testing plan, here are four
tools, but due to the complexities of things we recommend –
processes and transaction data density.
1. List your critical application processes /
One of the significant challenges however is transactions
how to operationalise an effective testing
function that supports your immediate as 2. Define performance measures/
well as long-term release / maintenance organizational benchmarks for these
plans. transactions /application processes
There are three key components to testing
3. Identify bottleneck activities for each of
these processes / transaction
a) Usability
b) Performance and
c) Functionality. 4. Re-Engineer / Re-Architect to remove
bottlenecks.
Tools are available to address each of these
components; however, organizations need Functional Testing – This is the most
to use these based on their requirements. critical component of all testing action plans.
In addition, the number of automated test
Usability Testing - Measures how easily tools abound that promise a quick and easy
customers can use your enterprise testing process. However, given the
application. This is helpful when your intricacies of most application deployments
enterprise applications are web-based and including numerous customizations, we
you are prototyping an application for recommend that organizations explore
deployment. It is helpful, if your organization alternatives prior to purchasing one. An
has user interface / usability guidelines independent and objective functionality
defined, else it would be good to define one. testing team that deeply understands the
intricacies of your application processes
Performance Testing – If your application would be helpful in the long term as they
is transaction intensive then over time, provide both accountability and flexibility.
application performance will tend to drag. Before stepping into executing a functional
Ensuing that there is continuous testing plan, however, it would helpful to
performance assessment and application check your own organizational readiness.
architecture is being redesigned to
accommodate newer performance needs is 1. Are your critical enterprise business
a good practice. Performance testing tools processes defined and mapped on to
(such as LoadRunner) allow performance application processes / functionalities at
testing to be simplified. The challenge a detailed level?
however is to utilize the testing resources
effectively to generate the maximum 2. Are all your development /
benefits. customization efforts tied into
requirements that are mapped to the
processes defined above?

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 critical success factor is having the Testing
3. Do your functional specification Team led by domain/application specialist
documents (or requirements design) who understands the application processes
sufficiently capture the change in as well as the underlying database schema.
Business Process / Application Process The application specialist ensures that there
(es) because of the proposed was no gap in communication, that all the
development? Data specifications are captured as needed
and the preconditions and configuration
For both a) Functional (Unit and Regression settings that were needed for the scipts is
Testing) and b) Performance Testing, the defined.

About Cognizant:

Headquartered in New Jersey, with more Your organizational budgets to focus on

than 30,000 employees worldwide, core architecture tasks.
Cognizant is a global leader in IT services
and pioneered the pace setting 4th
generation IT services model. Cognizant has
senior executives – such as client partners, To find out about how Cognizant can help
practice heads and program managers – improve your enterprise testing, please mail
based close to our clients in the US and us at [email protected]
Europe who are tightly integrated with our
robust SEI CMMI Level V offshore
capability, rated as one of the top 4, by a
leading analyst firm. Additionally, we
constantly become more customer-centric
by creating new ways to deliver bottom-line
benefits to our customers. We measure our
contributions through increased customer
satisfaction, client retention rates and value
delivered.

Cognizant’s ERP practice is mature and fast

growing. Having implemented ERP systems
across a wide range of vertical industry
sectors, we have developed core
competencies with the leading ERP
applications, including PeopleSoft, JD
Edwards and Oracle. Furthermore, with our
experience in related application areas,
ranging from CRM to business intelligence,
Supply Chain Management, Human
Resource Management, Financials, and e-
business, we can help your organization
derive maximum value from your ERP
projects.

In collaboration with our comprehensive and

growing eTesting practice, Cognizant helps
organizations leverage the power of
objectivity at a much lower cost – allowing

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