When to begin testing in the SDLC

A while ago I answered the following question on SearchSoftwareQuality.com’s Ask The Software Quality Expert: Questions & Answers.

During the SDLC for a Web-based application, when is the best time to present the application for testing and access to the business users? Should it be presented prior to the development and approval of the test conditions? What is the proper protocol?

Here is a clip from my answer:

In your context, if you wanted to release the application to testing and business users earlier , you might want to answer the following questions:

• Do we have a method for capturing early feedback from testers and users? This may or may not be your normal testing processes and tools.


• How will the development team (that's not only the programmers, but other testers, project managers, analysts, and other stakeholders) respond to early feedback if they get it?


• How will the testers respond to getting application earlier, perhaps in a less stable state? Will it make their jobs easier or more difficult? What would that team need to change to support that new process?


• How will the business users respond to getting application earlier, perhaps in a less stable state? Will it make their jobs easier or more difficult? What would that team need to change to support that new process?


• Are there any metrics that we currently capture that we may need to re-evaluate if we change when we release our software to testing or the business users?


• Are there any existing contract stipulations that might prevent us from changing when we release our software to testing or the business users?

You can find the full posting here.