A leap into quality
An idea is born. It is expressed as a desire. The desire is captured as a requirement. The requirement is translated and a technical specification is created, a plan is made, and resources are mobilized and informed about this requirement. A prototype is built and demonstrated. User experience is documented. Ideas then change. The requirements are refined again. The specifications are enhanced. The prototype is expanded into a system. The user still is not satisfied.
What is articulated as a desire gets translated into a design requirement and further developed into a product. The idea having flown through several hands and processes is bound to experience some impact based on the individual’s treatment of the idea. The process of documenting the idea also undergoes several refinements before it can match with the original requirement. Ambiguity maybe present in the idea itself. What is articulated, if not well understood, is bound to create ambiguity in the expression of the idea, that is, the documentation.
For a software idea, the processes for product realization are many. It is only after several transformations and environment modifications, does the product come into reality. Chaos dominates the initial phases of creation, innovative ideas are extended into the system, new improvements are planned and the market is prepared for releases. New opportunities are incorporated back into development.
Quality without ambiguity
One of the key concerns of the development programs is the stability and originality of the idea and the understanding of it throughout the life cycle (through documentation). There is a critical requirement for documenting these ideas as it passes through several processes of creation. Ambiguities creep in and development experiences deviation in terms of product features and program schedules. A critical concern of product managers is to control the ambiguities and prevent any misunderstanding of the product from creeping into the expression of the final product. A focus on ambiguity testing right from the requirement phase is a key aspect of software processes today.
Alliance RightLine method incorporates many checkpoints into the application testing life cycle. Ambiguity testing is conducted by experienced business analysts and project managers in collaboration with customers and end users of the product. A significant cost of failure is avoided here. A creative means of incorporating quality into the requirements testing phase brings significant benefits to the teams and also goes a long way in ensuring the defects are nipped in the bud of thoughts of developers. The user confidence is enhanced and products gain traction.