Role of a Business Analyst in Software Testing
Software Testing, in simple words, is a process of verifying that the developed software system or product meet the desired requirements/ business needs. Any issues/defects identified during testing are analyzed, corrected and retested to ensure that these are working as expected. In traditional Software Development Life Cycle models, testing is carried out once requirements and coding has been completed.
In the course of implementing a project, software testing occurs at more than one levels. The Business Analyst gets actively involved in some of them and is available for requirements clarifications in other ones. Though the below list is not exhaustive in terms of all of the different types of software testing, it incorporates the most common forms of Software testing and business analyst involvement in each one of them.
Role of a Business Analyst in Unit Testing
Unit Testing
Unit Testing is carried out on a single unit which can be module or component. The programmers can test the unit in isolation to make sure that expected outputs are generated proper inputs are provided.
Software Programmers are usually responsible for conducting this type of testing and role of a business analyst in very limited. Business analyst answers any questions that the programmers may have on results/logic as to whether these map with the requirements.
Role of a Business Analyst in Integration Testing
Integration Testing
Instead of a single unit, two or more units are involved in Integration testing. However, Integration Testing should be performed each time any major changes likely to impact a unit occur and hence there is a need to test that all impacted units continue to operate properly. Also, it needs to be ensured that connectivity to database and external applications work fine and systems runs fine on the desired hardware platforms.
Similar to Unit Testing, programmers are responsible for carrying out this type of testing and role of business analyst is minimal. Business analyst answers any questions that the programmers may have on results/logic, integrations and platform support as to whether these map with the requirements.
Role of Business Analyst in System Testing
System Testing
System testing is carried out to verify that system, as a whole, works as per specified requirements. It is also knows as end-to-end testing and is performed to ensure that all system components run in an acceptable manner independently and also when integrated with one another. System testing is also performed to make certain that all interfaces work together properly.
A Business Analyst is actively involved in System Testing and can play varied roles that involve (but not limited to) the below activities.
- Work with Testing team to create system test plans
- Create and execute the system test cases
- Review system cases prepared by Testing team
- Provide requirements clarifications when required by Testing Team.
Role of Business Analyst in Regression Testing
Regression Testing
Regression Testing is a type of software testing to ensure that a code change a particular feature/module has not negatively affected existing features/modules. Generally, a Regression Testing suite is prepared which is a partial selection of already compiled system test cases and these tests are executed after a code change to ensure that the existing functionalities work fine i.e. are not regressed.
Business Analyst is decently involved in Regression testing. He/She may select which critical test cases should be selected to form a Regression suite in order to verify that all features are intact post a code change and may also execute the Regression test cases independently or in association with Testing team.
Role of Business Analyst in Sanity Testing
Sanity Testing
Sanity testing (or Sanity check) is a type of Software testing in which only basic tests are carried out when a new build is received for testing. It is also referred to as subset of Regression testing and is performed to ensure that the code changes are working as expected. It is about validating the core functionality of the application and not perform thorough testing.
Business Analyst may or may not be involved in Sanity Testing but if involved he/she execute the Sanity test cases independently or in association with Testing team if required.
Role of Business Analyst in UAT
User Acceptance Testing (UAT)
User Acceptance Testing (UAT), as the name suggests, is testing of the application carried out by users who may be business subject matter experts or end users in which they validate that the solution meets the desired business needs and stakeholder & solution requirements. User Acceptance Testing is possibly the most important testing activity and is of keen interest for project management, business sponsor and users. This is because UAT is carried out on product like scenarios and environment with possibly real business data, and passing of UAT tests mean that solution fulfill the business and solution requirements and is ready to be deployed.
Business Analyst has an active role to play in User Acceptance testing and can play varied roles that involve (but not limited to) the below activities.
- Carry out UAT on behalf of business end users if appointed by them to perform to carry it out on their behalf.
- Assist in creating or create UAT test cases that cover the essential business scenarios/use cases.
- Train the testers from business side on the functional aspects of the application.
- Clarify any functional queries that may arise during testing activities.
- In most cases, Business Analyst is the responsible party to get sign-off on UAT.
Final thoughts on the role of a Business Analyst in Software Testing
To sum up, even though a Business Analyst’s primary role is to be a requirements owner in a project, he/she has a part to play in every type of software testing. In order to ensure that the developed system meet the business needs, Business Analyst gets involved in various testing phases to validate it. From clarifying requirements to writing test plans & test cases to even executing them and also take UAT sign-offs, business analyst has a multi-faceted role to perform in Software testing.
You may also like
Business Analysis Knowledge Areas Explained as per BABoK
Brainstorming for Creative Thinking
Login with Google