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

Appendix A. Advanced Testing Concepts

This book so far has covered numerous testing strategies that can be implemented to allow for a successful SAP implementation and testing effort. This appendix will provide an overview of some of the more advanced testing concepts that can be implemented additionally to enhance the testing efforts. It will cover the Orthogonal Arrays Testing System (OATS), which describes a statistical approach to narrowing down test input data, plus a very effective way to automate (i.e., the keyword-driven automation approach). It will also touch on usability testing, including Section 508. Finally, this appendix will cover a test harness architecture.

ORTHOGONAL ARRAYS^[15]

It is generally not feasible or cost effective to test a system using all the possible variations and combinations of test parameter inputs. SAP implementations that have SAP variant configuration are prime examples of software implementations that have to test multiple combinations for creating a product based on different parameter inputs and data dependencies among the parameters. An example of SAP variant configuration would be an Internet user interested in purchasing an automobile over the Internet, which can cause the user to have hundreds, if not thousands, of combinations to build a car through a manufacturer's website. Another example of a system requiring multiple combinations and test parameter inputs is a tax management system that required testing and contained a calculation ...