When does class start/end?
Class hours may vary, please reach out to contact@ascendientlearning.com if you have any questions.
Requirements Validation and Testing (Validation and Test)
Quality is the major business differentiator in IT. Studies such as the Chaos Report show that the most common cause of low quality is having poor, or poorly understood, requirements. Other common...
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$2,385 USD
Duration
3 days
Course Code
2655
Available Formats
Virtual, Classroom
Overview
Quality is the major business differentiator in IT. Studies such as the Chaos Report show that the most common cause of low quality is having poor, or poorly understood, requirements. Other common causes are poor design, code, and installation. While prevention of defects is the best cure, identifying and fixing defects as early as possible is key, and some of the responsibility for doing that falls on the business analyst (BA). This course, therefore, concentrates on the validation techniques for:
- Requirements
- The system at the business level (functional and usability testing)
- Acceptance
- Business purpose (stakeholder satisfaction with the production product)
In this course you will learn the importance of achieving quality and your role in doing so. You will learn which project and product factors affect the two components of risk (likelihood and impact), and you'll learn to apply those to various real-life validation situations using a case study and practicing testing decision-making. You will learn techniques for:
- Validating requirements or any text-based product (such as procedures or plans)
- Testing functional and manual requirements
- Assessing and testing usability
You will learn to plan functional and usability testing at the business level and the essential elements to document that planning. You'll examine your role in Acceptance, including Acceptance of an outsourced product, and you'll determine how to assess stakeholder satisfaction with the product in production.
Since there is never time, even theoretically, to validate all details of a product, an important concept is using risk assessment to determine the appropriate thoroughness of validation at every stage. Exercises in risk assessment and all the major validation techniques are an integral part of this course.
While the involvement of BAs in testing varies widely across companies, this course assumes maximum involvement at the business level (excluding nonfunctional testing except for usability). Each student can tailor the content to suit a specific company's policies.
Students pursuing a university-recognized and/or accredited certificate in Canada or continuing education units in the US must attend at least 90% of class time, participate in class exercises and section-knowledge checks, and score at least 70% on an end-of-class, multiple-choice assessment.
Skills Gained
- Position the activities of the BA in the complete verification and validation process
- Use testing terminology in a standardized way
- Use risk to drive the validation effort and therefore use project money wisely
- Make decisions on what not to test for defects
- Plan appropriate (risk-based) techniques to find defects in the BRD, that is, validate the BRD
- Plan appropriate (risk-based) functional testing techniques at the BA level to find defects
- Plan appropriate (risk based) glass box testing techniques for processes to find defects
- Check and test usability
- Choose appropriate (customer-selected) tests for acceptance, that is, compliance to requirements
- Manage test data and information
- Manage requirements problems and test failures
- Document the plans (activities, resources, risks)
- Gain acceptance, install the product, and validate to business needs
Hands-On Exercises
- Develop a High-Level BA Validation Strategy and Budget
- Determine Requirements That Can Be Validated and Tested
- Perform a Peer Review
- Choose the Appropriate Technique for Finding Defects
- Develop a Mid-Level Test Strategy
- Develop a Test Suite
- Develop Boundary Testing
- Develop a Condition Coverage Test Matrix
- Design CRUD Testing
- List Error Guessing Inputs
- Choose Testing Techniques
- Develop Inputs to Test Activity and Decision Coverage
- Develop Inputs to Test Condition Coverage
- Check a Web Page
- Conduct a Usability Test
- Manage Risk of Testing
- Desk Check a Test Plan
- Deciding What Test Coverage To Agree To
- Develop Customer Satisfaction Survey Questions
Who Can Benefit
- Business analysts who have some testing experiencing and want one or more of the following:
- A more formal understanding
- To be more efficient
- To standardize across a group, department, or organization
- Business analysts who don't know anything about testing and want to learn how to do it
- Project managers who want to understand BA terminology and how the BA sees risks
Course Details
1. Testing and the BA
- Good Testing and Checking
- Project Team Verification and Validation Process
- Types of Testing
- Ways to Verify and Validate
2. High-Level BA Validation
- Your Budget and Risk Management
- Estimating the Risks of Defects in the System
- Developing a High-Level Validation Strategy and Budget
3. Finding Defects in the BRD
- Characteristics of a Good BRD
- Techniques of Finding Defects in a BRD
- Choosing the Appropriate Technique
4. Planning Testing
- Structured Testing
- Mid-Level Test Strategy
- Test Cases
5. BA-Level Functional Testing in the Automated System
- Black Box Testing
- Black Box Testing Techniques
- Automated Low-Level Test Strategy
6. BA Validation of Processes
- Validating Processes
- Glass Box Testing Techniques
- Process Low-Level Test Strategy
7. Usability Validation
- The Importance of Usability
- Usability Validation by the BA
- Getting Users Involved in Validation
- Usability Testing
8. Documenting the Test Plan
- Capturing the BA Test Plan
- Formal BA Test Plan
9. Acceptance, Installation, and Validation to Business Needs
- Acceptance
- Installing the System
- Validating to the Business Needs
- Completing the Project
Schedule
2 options available
-
Jul 14, 2025 - Jul 16, 2025 (3 days)
Virtual | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM EDT Language English Select from 1 options below Virtual |8:30 AM – 4:30 PM EDT- Enroll
- Enroll Add to quote
-
Dec 8, 2025 - Dec 10, 2025 (3 days)
Virtual | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM EST Language English Select from 1 options below Virtual |8:30 AM – 4:30 PM EST- Enroll
- Enroll Add to quote
FAQ
Does the course schedule include a Lunchbreak?
Classes typically include a 1-hour lunch break around midday. However, the exact break times and duration can vary depending on the specific class. Your instructor will provide detailed information at the start of the course.
What languages are used to deliver training?
Most courses are conducted in English, unless otherwise specified. Some courses will have the word "FRENCH" marked in red beside the scheduled date(s) indicating the language of instruction.
What does GTR stand for?
GTR stands for Guaranteed to Run; if you see a course with this status, it means this event is confirmed to run. View our GTR page to see our full list of Guaranteed to Run courses.
How do I find an Ascendient Learning training location?
We have training locations across the United States and Canada - View a complete list of classroom training locations.
Which delivery formats are available?
At Ascendient Learning, we offer training that is Instructor-Led, Online, Virtual, and Self-Paced.
Does Ascendient Learning deliver group training?
Yes, we provide training for groups, individuals and private on sites. View our group training page for more information.
What does vendor-authorized training mean?
As a vendor-authorized training partner, we offer a curriculum that our partners have vetted. We use the same course materials and facilitate the same labs as our vendor-delivered training. These courses are considered the gold standard and, as such, are priced accordingly.
Is the training too basic, or will you go deep into technology?
It depends on your requirements, your role in your company, and your depth of knowledge. The good news about many of our learning paths, you can start from the fundamentals to highly specialized training.
How up-to-date are your courses and support materials?
We continuously work with our vendors to evaluate and refresh course material to reflect the latest training courses and best practices.
Are your instructors seasoned trainers who have deep knowledge of the training topic?
Ascendient Learning instructors have an average of 27 years of practical IT experience and have also served as consultants for an average of 15 years. To stay current, instructors spend at least 25 percent of their time learning new, emerging technologies and courses.
Do you provide hands-on training and exercises in an actual lab environment?
Lab access is dependent on the vendor and the type of training you sign up for. However, many of our top vendors will provide lab access to students to test and practice. The course description will specify lab access.
Will you customize the training for our company’s specific needs and goals?
We will work with you to identify training needs and areas of growth. We offer a variety of training methods, such as private group training, on-site of your choice, and virtually. We provide courses and certifications that are aligned with your business goals.
How do I get started with certification?
Getting started on a certification pathway depends on your goals and the vendor you choose to get certified in. Many vendors offer entry-level IT certification to advanced IT certification that can boost your career. To get access to certification vouchers and discounts, please contact info@ascendientlearning.com.
Will I get access to content after I complete a course?
You will get access to the PDF of course books and guides, but access to the recording and slides will depend on the vendor and type of training you receive.
How do I request a W9 for Ascendient Learning?
View our filing status and how to request a W9.
Reviews
Both course material and instructor demonstrated a sound foundation on Maximo material
The training was very good to understand the concepts and how to set up things .
this class was informative, made me think about certifying for the suse manager cert.
It was very informative and covered all the required materials along with handson labs for practice.
Topics, material and specially instructor (Graham Godfrey) was beyond my expectations.
