Why carry out an ISQ Analysis?
Dr. Magnus C. Ohlsson, test strategist for System Verification, has carried out numerous analyses for our clients. Though scope may vary, the benefit of ISQ analysis is always the same: companies gain valuable insight into quality-related problems and how to address them.
How can a company benefit from ISQ analysis?
Companies have many different reasons for carrying out an analysis. The most common motivation is the need for an independent, external assessment to get the most accurate picture with respect to the company’s strengths and potential for improvement.
ISQ analysis covers the entire quality process, as well as organizational and business perspectives. It increases awareness about quality-related issues and creates a basis for decisions about strategic improvement and investment. In the long term, analysis contributes to increased test and system quality.
How does analysis work?
First, we select employees to participate in qualitative interviews based on open questions. Roles include leadership, project managers, test managers, developers, testers, support personnel and architects. The number of persons interviewed depends on the organization’s size and the number of projects or systems the company develops and maintains. Historically, we’ve interviewed between eight and 40 persons per analysis. Following the interviews, we complete a report and present the results in a workshop.
What effort is required on the part of the client?
Relatively little – we need help with practical matters, such as scheduling interviewees and booking facilities for interviews, and sometimes we need to arrange to see selected documents.
Does the client need to prepare in advance for the analysis in any way?
Not really. In some senses, it can be a disadvantage to think too much about how to answer questions during the analysis. However, it is important to communicate with personnel about why System Verification is visiting and conducting interviews, and what the company hopes to achieve with ISQ analysis.
Can System Verification help with implementing changes after the analysis?
Absolutely; that’s the most logical approach. Analysis gives us an opportunity to learn about the client’s operations, and we have extensive experience from years of successful improvement projects.
What process method is used in ISQ analysis?
We are not limited to any particular method or framework – we suggest what we think will work best for the client, unless the client wants to use a specific process. We are well-versed in a number of methods, such as TMMi, TPI NEXT, and ISO 29119, but often we select a more general method to ensure that we can carry out the best, most comprehensive and accurate analysis as possible.
What is included in the report?
The contents of the report will vary, depending on whether we have chosen to use a specific framework and whether we have analyzed one or multiple projects. The report always describes the analysis process itself and the roles selected for interview. It also contains a current situation analysis, along with descriptions of strengths and areas for improvement. Lastly, we present a summary of our suggested plan of action.
Author: Dr. Magnus C. Ohlsson, Test Strategist, System Verification.
Phone: +45 73 661 28 18
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