Acutest help BT modernise their testing approach
Acutest, a specialist testing company, announced that it has successfully completed a review of the testing and assurance activities across BT’s core One IT programmes. These programmes are characterised by their large scale and complexity, advanced technology, aggressive timescales, distributed environments and multiple supplier involvement.“We’ve made huge changes in how we work and our business environment has also changed radically. It was fundamental that our approach to testing and assurance was revised for this new world.” said Claire Rawlins, Director, Operational Integrity. “We engaged Acutest to review our core programmes and help us integrate the best elements of our existing practices into our new testing approach. The reviews were well received by our programme managers, particularly the speed and transparency with which they were conducted. We are now implementing the recommendations and even at this early stage benefits are already being delivered. For example, the introduction of a daily risk based testing report has provided business and programme management with clearer visibility and hence better control of risk, leading to a substantial saving by focusing testing where it matters most.”
The approach to the review is based on Acutest’s principle-centred approach to testing which has been tailored for BT. Each review compares the programme’s approach to industry good practice in test governance, testing processes, and deployment of staff and technology resources. The recommendations are linked to testing performance measures on the programme itself, rather the abstract levels used in many testing review methods.
“Acutest’s test improvement reviews give a practical, repeatable and objective method of assessing testing and assurance on business change and IT programmes.” commented Barry Varley, Managing Director of Acutest. “More importantly, they show where focusing testing efforts will create the fastest and most effective improvement in performance. We’re really pleased with the way the changes we’ve recommended have been embraced not only by BT staff but also by the outsourced and offshore suppliers to these programmes.”
