Offshore

Models

The Preparation phase lends itself best to be taken off-site. Once the Test Strategy, the Master Test Plan and Testing Requirements have been agreed, we start the most labour intensive phase of the Testing Lifecycle.

This phase covers:

Validating the Test Requirements
Performing Static testing of project documentation
Defining the Test scenarios
Creation of the Test scripts
Updating all items to the Test Management Tool (ALM, Remedy etc.)
Creation of Testing documentation
Assisting in the creation of the User manual (screen-shots etc.)
Maintenance of Traceability Matrices
Impact Assessment for CRs
Producing the Regression Pack under guidance from the Execution Team
Managing Knowledge of the application

At Delphi Services this phase will be covered by Test Leads, Test Analysts, Junior Testers and Defect Managers. These can be located at our Delivery Centre in Swindon, based on-site or even offshore with on-site/off-site support from within Delphi Services as required.

Execution starts once the system changes have been delivered and the preparation activities completed. This phase has the highest visibility and is normally most squeezed for time.

This phase covers:

Execution of the agreed Functional test scripts
Execution of the agreed Non-Functional scripts
Defect Management and issue resolution
Creation and execution of Regression Packs
Providing Impact Assessments for any CRs
Assisting the Business Users in the creation of User Manuals
Assisting in the User/Business acceptance testing
Managing Knowledge of the application

The Execution phase is the most complicated. The execution of scripts can be performed from anywhere with the required connectivity, however, issue resolution benefits from face-to-face conversation and benefits from an on-site presence.

At Delphi Services this would be managed with an on-site and an off-site presence. Typically, a Test Manager/Test Lead would be on-site to resolve queries with the option to have more resource deployed if needed whilst performing the majority of test execution from our Swindon or offshore Delivery Centres.

Delphi Services understands what can be off-shored. Appropriate use of resources and their location is the key for success.

At Delphi Services we are focused on creating onshore test labs that can compete with the offshore model to provide quality solutions at a cost-effective rate.

We recognise the problem is often not with offshoring, but the tendency to treat each of the phases of the SDLC as a single entity. Delphi Services appreciates that each of these entities can be broken down into three distinct phases and these phases can be treated separately. Project Management is an entity, Development is an entity, Testing is an entity and so on. These entities tend to get offshored in their entirety.

Traditionally the Testing phase comes near the end of the SDLC. Consequently, this phase tends to get squeezed the most and therefore benefits from detailed understanding and planning.

Testing can be broken down into three activities: Planning, Preparation and Execution. Each of these phases should be thought of independently. Not all of these phases should be offshore/off-site.

Delphi Services Model PEPTM looks at each of these phases and the best location for delivery.

The planning phase is the most important as it defines how subsequent phases perform. It is the phase that requires the greatest interaction with the rest of the project and the end-user community.

This phase covers:

Understanding the project objectives, reviewing the project initiation documentation and project outline solution
Analysing the Business requirements
Analysing the Design and Technical solution documents
Providing Test estimates and agreeing the Test strategy
Defining the Test resource profile and engaging the Preparation team
Creating and agreeing the Testing requirements documentation and Test cases
Defining and agreeing Test Plans and Test Schedule
Defining and acquiring the Test Environments
Defining the Knowledge Transfer process
Engaging the onshore/on-site Execution Team
These tasks are very interactive and are best managed on-site.

At Delphi Services this phase would be covered by a Test Management Consultant and a Test Manager based on the client site, with on-site/off-site support from Delphi Services as required.