The Requirement:
The project focused on delivery of a global payments data warehouse system and web based Business Intelligence application, covering 11 countries across 4 continents. Elite Testing Consultants were given responsibility for developing and implementing the testing strategy, utilising resources based across the globe.
Technical Detail of the Project:
- Operating Platform: UNIX (Solaris)
- Database: Oracle 11, Netezza
- BI Application: MicroStrategy 9
- ETL: Informatica
- Client/Server Based system
- Browser: Internet Explorer
- Downstream report access via BlackBerry etc
- Sources: IBM Mainframe, external data feeds, ABACIS
Testing Requirements:
- Develop and implement a global testing strategy
- Ensure test incidents were found early
- Build a re-usable test delivery process
- Ensure performance meets existing report SLA’s at a minimum
- Provide training to permanent and offshore members of staff to ensure top-level skills
Testing Solution:
- An agile/iterative approach was recommended and adopted
- Automated functional testing using a framework based upon Mercury’s Quick Test Professional was designed, which meant increased speed of tests, increased accuracy, increased coverage and ease of regression testing through iterations.
- A test data strategy encompassing all 11 sources utilising production data to ensure full coverage
- A two pronged performance testing approach to encompass ETL load timings and report response times
- A clear defect management process to manage test incidents
- A reusable standard test documentation procedure
An Example from the Project:
Previous functional testing using a 100% automated approach had never been achieved at this organisation before. The ETC Data Warehouse Testing Strategy implemented this from the 1st iteration and paid huge dividends by finding fundamental flaws with the design of staging areas. This was only achieved by using full sets of production data via automation. The use of automation meant that the testing team had a team of 4 staff as opposed to the 14 ETL developers utilised.
