How important is User Acceptance Testing

Whenever a software organization delivers a new project or customizes an enhancement

feature for an existing product, it always strives for client satisfaction. While various testing

approaches and methodologies are followed within organizations to increase the quality of

output, the most important testing for client satisfaction is User Acceptance Testing. During this

testing, actual business users will get to test the enhanced product. UAT (User Acceptance

Testing) is the last major test before delivery. If UAT goes badly, it is fair to say that much of the

good work prior to UAT is wasted.

What is UAT (User Acceptance Testing)?

The explanation of UAT is in its name. Taking each part separately explains what it is about.

User These are the real business users, who have to operate the system – usually the staff

of an organization. System developers cannot play this role, as although they are expert at

writing software, they are unlikely to know the nuances and the realities of the organization,

beyond what they have acquired from the requirements specifications and other

documents.

Acceptance Acceptance means giving the confidence to the client that the product

delivered will benefit them by satisfying their actual requirements and expectations.

Testing Though the most common explanation of testing is to prove the system works, I

would say a good test is also one that is designed to try and make a system fail, so as to

expose its faults before it goes live.

Bringing all the three together, the UAT can be explained as business users checking the

system in the context of the business environment to ensure requirements satisfaction.

Why is User Acceptance Testing Required?

The simple answer would be protecting the product/system from harm while at the same time

reducing Reputation Risk, Time Risk, and Resource Risk. Therefore the main reason for UAT is

to identify what a system will do and how it will benefit the client before it is implemented in their

live environment.

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How is User Acceptance Testing Performed?

The QA team creates a Test environment using the Client Live environment as a base and

deploys the product and/or its enhancements.

They engage and coordinate with the client to provide information about the new features

that are part of the release.

They hand over the Test Scenarios created for internal Testing to client to validate with

their business requirements.

They assist business users in executing the Test Scenarios (and others as the client may

determine) and confirming whether all requirements are satisfied.

What are the Benefits of User Acceptance Testing?

Apart from the major benefit of the client gaining confidence in the system, benefits include

1. Reduced system failure risk in Live Environment

2. Reduction in bug count reported from Production

3. Better understanding of process workflow by actual users

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