Testing SAP R/3: A Manager's Step-by-Step Guide

Chapter 7. Quality Assurance Standards

The concept of quality assurance (QA) in an SAP environment conjures the perception that QA is the equivalent of configuring the quality management (QM) module. While QM configuration helps end users perform tasks such as lot and source inspections, the act of configuring QM does not introduce QA to the design, configuration, or development of the SAP solution. Projects that adhere to recognized methodologies and philosophies such as Six Sigma, Capability Maturity Model (CMM), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards are most likely to successfully enforce QA standards.

The QA team can perform the following activities within an SAP implementation:

• Ensure that documentation for deliverables such as business process procedures (BPPs), flow process diagrams, and technical and functional specifications are in accordance with documented standards.

• Ensure that all mandatory information is documented and approvals are granted before an object is transported into the production environment.

• Ensure that project members assigned to testing tasks and execution of test cases adhere to the procedures and methodology outlined in the test plan and test strategy (i.e., using appropriate templates, version control for objects).

• Spot inspection for project deliverables and document scorecards for measuring and evaluating compliance of project teams to documented QA standards.

• Document lessons learned.

• Train and mentor project members on ...