The independent role: verification and validation, and compliance testing
Barbara J. Taute · Managing Requirements Knowledge, International Workshop on · 1899
The independent role of quality assurance can be most beneficial in the final testing phase of the software development life cycle. At this point various efforts and groups merge, often for the first time. The period of time devoted to the discovery, understanding, prioritization, and correction of software problems is critical to the timely delivery of the product. Quality assurance can provide and foster a healthy working environment for this interaction, as well as serve as an intermediary during points of disagreement.This paper discusses an actual compliance testing effort of customized, complex vendor-supplied software. The value of having an independent group involved during the testing effort was clearly made visible during the arbitration process. The critical timing was monitored, points of disagreement over the contract were resolved, and the testing effort was shortened through the involvement of an independent group. In effect, both vendor and user/purchaser benefited from the quality assurance techniques brought by an independent role involvement.