User testing/signoff procedures

[Jelena_Perfiljeva]

Most likely every SAP client has some kind of a procedure in place for the user testing and signoff before the transports may be moved to production. From your experience, what procedures have you seen (not just in the SAP world) and which ones, in your opinion, work the best?

Here are two examples from my past jobs as a programmer:

1) Developer prepares testing scenarios (in Excel); Business Analyst runs them through and marks each line with the result. This spreadsheet is then embedded in another document that lists all the items to be implemented in that week (scheduled weekly implementation).

2) A signoff form (Word template) is prepared by developer/functional analyst and emailed to the business user responsible for testing. The form includes basic information (usualy there is a corresponding ticket) and developer's name/date as form of a signature. The user then signs/dates the form and returns it to the developer. The form is forwarded to Basis admin as an approval to move the transports.

In perfect world, the signoff should not be an additional burden for a developer yet need to ensure that testing has been performed properly. In reality, this may be difficult to achieve. As a developer, I liked the 2nd option better, but it sometimes lead to users signing off without any testing (and then guess who gets blamed when something doesn't work).

What are your thoughts?

[Former Member]

I think the developer should be as far removed from the user testing as possible. If the developer creates the test cases, the testing may only cover what the developer thinks should be happening.

Ideally, a functional analyst should both give the developer the business requirements and develop the test cases. When he or she is satisfied that it works, then it should go to the business user for the final sign-off.

Rob