1. Quality in application development
Organisations are becoming increasingly aware of
the importance of quality at all levels.
This trend is now also making itself felt in
application development. Businesses are
constantly setting higher standards as far as the
quality and usability of their applications are
concerned, as well as for output reliability. That is
why software testing is now a vital component of
quality and risk management. SWTEST180210ENG
Ordina Belgium • Blarenberglaan 3B • B-2800 Mechelen • Belgium
 +32 (0)15 29 58 58
www.ordina.be

2. Software testing, faster and better
Software testing, faster and better Based on the V-model
Why software testing?
Quality in the entire development cycle
By testing software defects can be identified. You can then
Ordina has developed a structured approach to software
remove them before going into production. This prevents
testing. This is based on the V-model for software
defects to affect the integrity and the correct processing
development. This creates a correlation between the
of your data, and as a result the quality of your services
various phases of development and testing. Each phase
and products. By professionally documenting the
starts on the basis of detailed documentation of the
operation of the system, you also demonstrate that the
previous phase. This approach guarantees quality
system operates in accordance with the specifications.
throughout the entire life cycle of a development project.
Software testing with Ordina
Ordina has developed a structured approach to testing
with considerable attention being paid to risk
management. Ordina learned the tricks of the trade in the
strictly regulated pharmaceutical sector. By adopting a
risk-based approach Ordina focuses on the critical points
in a development process without jeopardising the quality
or the safety of the software. For certain types of test
assignments Ordina collaborates with the social profit
company Passwerk.
Testing at various levels
Software can be tested at various levels:
1. Component testing: do the components that have
been developed operate as stipulated in the design?
2. Integration testing: do the components do what they
are expected to do when you interconnect them?
3. System testing: does the system operate as a whole: is
it performant, can it manage large volumes, can it
handle peak loads, is the documentation usable, is the
system stable and reliable in all circumstances?
Testing tools 4. Acceptance testing: does the system do what the
Ordina prefers to use testing tools in order to verify the client expects it to do?
quality of applications. Every Ordina tester has experience Test strategy
with HP Quality Center and other tools. Test tools are used
Do you need to test your software at every level of the
to create test scenarios, analyze test results, trace test
development cycle for each individual project? Not
activities and automate the execution. If no tools are
necessarily. Ordina determines your test strategy on the
available, Ordina may either use templates to track the
basis of questions, such as:
process or employ a testing management tool that was
developed in-house. how complex are the system and its
components?
how familiar is the development team with the
processes, development methods and tools?
how critical is the process to be automated to
your company’s operation?
in which parts of the development process can
one expect potential risks?
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More info? Please call Bart Van Acker +32 (0)15 29 58 58.
www.ordina.be

3. Software testing, faster and better
Risk-based approach Advantages of a risk-based approach
By adopting a risk-based approach you map out the critical
Focus on critical aspects risk factors, and you will obtain a clearer picture of the
Ordina takes a risk-based approach to testing. Its basic scope for the test activities. The approach clarifies which
principle: spend your valuable time and energy on those records, system activities and application processes you
components which present the greatest risk, without have to monitor when setting up an audit trail. Finally, a
jeopardising the quality or safety of the software. This is risk-based approach can form the basis for monitoring the
logical, because critical components require more testing integrity and reliability of your records throughout their
than those that are less critical. If you perform a risk entire life cycle.
analysis at the right stages of a project, then you will save
considerable amounts of money at the testing stage and
Justify the approach
when executing the code.
Scale up or down the required
Risk analysis effort
The risk analysis focuses on: Focus on critical functions of your
process
the possible impact of an error;
the probability of an error occurring; Support successful process &
system development
the chance of an error being detected when it Support maintenance of the
occurs. qualified state, the change
management process
The most suitable approach
With a risk analysis you will achieve several objectives.
Based on experience and best practice, Ordina opts for the
most suitable approach for your new development
project– such as Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA),
Ishikawa diagrams, Fault or Event Tree Analysis, or Hazard Risk-based approach with Ordina
Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP).
Implementation: An experienced quality consultant
Scenario: The quality consultant performs the risk analysis
and documents the findings. The analysis takes two days
per business process – one for the implementation and
one for the documentation. Participation of key users or
business process owners is crucial.
References: e.g. Alcon, Institute for Tropical Medicine,
Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Qualiphar, Red Cross, etc.
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More info? Please call Bart Van Acker +32 (0)15 29 58 58.
www.ordina.be

4. Software testing, faster and better
Test management Testing software with Passwerk
Working with a test manager Autistic people as test engineers
The larger the project, the larger the test team. For large In 2008, Ordina Belgium participated
or more complex projects it is wise to appoint a test in setting up Passwerk: an
manager, whose main duties will be: organisation that focuses on
co-ordination: follow-up of test engineers, planning, software testing carried out by
project progress, etc.; normally gifted people with an
first point of contact for the designers with questions autism spectrum disorder. Autistic people work
about defects, and for the management concerning accurately, thoroughly, efficiently, and they are focused.
e.g. the status of the test project; Furthermore, they love repetitive tasks and long-term
assignments. This makes them excellent test engineers.
if required, reporting on the progress of the software
quality and project status, for example. Setting the bar high
On larger projects it is recommended to support the test Passwerk sets the bar very high in matters of recruitment,
manager with specific tools. training and guidance of its test engineers. The tests are
co-ordinated by experienced professionals at Ordina or by
Working with test scenarios the client. Ordina also monitors the quality of the work
A structured approach to testing requires that the possible supplied. This ensures optimum results. Passwerk
scenarios are documented in test cases. For test scenarios combines business challenges with a social dimension.
Ordina works on the basis of the following principles: Working with Passwerk underlines your socially
prepare test cases based on the business and user responsible entrepreneurship.
requirements, functional and technical specifications;
only then will the final result meet the expectations of
the users; In a nutshell:
save the test scenarios after delivery of the project; software testing with Ordina
they can often still prove highly useful for upgrades
and maintenance of the application. Implementation: Passwerk (test engineers) and Ordina
(test engineers, test co-ordinators and test managers)
Reporting bugs
Ordina test engineers pay considerable attention to clear Three scenarios:
reporting about the defects detected. Thus, the 1. Ordina co-ordinates and manages the test process.
developers can quickly and accurately reproduce and solve The test co-ordinator writes the test plan. The client
the errors. Using the script as the basis, the test engineer prepares the test scripts and carries them out. A test
will check whether the error has effectively been solved. If co-ordinator or test manager will be appointed on
necessary, he will also perform regression tests. These larger and more complex projects.
check whether the corrections made have not led to any 2. An Ordina test co-ordinator prepares the test scripts.
new errors occurring in the programmes. The client carries them out.
3. Ordina is responsible for the entire test process.
References: e.g. Acerta, Agfa, Digipolis, Fortis, KBC,
Mobistar, Proximus, Telenet, VDAB, Wolters-Kluwer.
Ordina branches in Belgium and Luxembourg
Blarenberglaan 3B, B-2800 Mechelen, Tel. +32 (0)15 29 58 58 Route d’Arlon 94; L-8311 Capellen, Tel. +352 26 30 33-25
Gouv. Roppesingel 25, B-3500 Hasselt, Tel. +32 (0)11 30 38 38
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More info? Please call Bart Van Acker +32 (0)15 29 58 58.
www.ordina.be