The BAU model is a continuous working model, but there is no assurance that it will continue to function the way it is expected to be. Let us consider a hypothetical situation like a busy day in a bank or a financial organization when all the systems are up and running. But due to an unprecedented event like force majeure, the system performance is disrupted immediately. You may imagine the loss that the organization must incur. This unanticipated loss damages the company’s reputation, which a company takes a lot of time to recover.

The BAU projects thus require thorough planning at the initial stage of project inception. Business as Usual is a continuous yet challenging model simply because the service providers must address the new requirements with the existing ones and create a model that meets the concurrent business model. In addition to this, it must also look upon the business operation and ensure system functionalities as they form the backbone of any organization.

What is Business as Usual (BAU) and why it is important to test BAU projects?

If we can put it in a simple language, an organization performs various operational activities daily. They follow a strategic routine work in a competitive work environment. The continuous flow of operational activities to maintain business continuity is critical. This is known as Business as Usual or (BAU).

A question may be extremely pertinent here, if an organization performs regular operational activities diligently, it must have gained mastery in the field, then why there is a need for testing the BAU projects. Let us not negate the fact even if the organizations are performing the operational activities regularly, the systems and the workforce are prone to errors. By testing Business as Usual, we focus on improving the efficiency and coverage and reducing effort, which lowers the operational expenses that may follow without a proper disaster management system.

Ensuring the system quality is directly proportionate to ensuring the quality of your BAU model. Quality Assurance (QA) services play a predominant role in ensuring system quality. An adequate BAU testing methodology is an answer to this. The right BAU testing methodology is a 5-step process, which includes analyzing, mapping, executing, retesting and reporting, enhancing and maintaining a regression pack. One critical aspect of end-to-end BAU testing is periodic regression runs. Running regression tests periodically helps in patch fixes, ad hoc fixes and improves enhancements.

BAU functional testing is critical as it confirms the functional quality of the system. BAU functional testing is inclusive of but not limited to system integration testing, user acceptance testing, and UI/UX testing. A massive part of BAU functional testing includes a thorough analysis of system functionality through regression testing. BAU functional testing methodology includes creating regression test cases, analyzing the regression impact, mapping the impacted regression test cases, executing the impacted regression test cases, defect logging and tracking, and finally adding the test cases to the regression pack for the patch fixes and enhancements.

The functionality of BAU can be checked using various techniques and the defects or loopholes in it can be restricted without much hard work. Starting from functional BAU testing, which is performed to confirm the functionality of the system, to make sure that it provides the required output, to where the different issues are identified in the application when being tested and are tracked throughout so that it can be evaluated at later stage.

The functional support and testing in BAU projects are necessary as it ensures that there will be a quarter-to-quarter improvement and growth during each stage of release. The growth in the BAU projects can be tracked when there is a reduction in effort, improvement in efficiency, and an increase in test coverage. A combination of all these leads to cost-efficient operational activities.

Why we need Core and Flexi Delivery model in BAU testing projects

Let us consider a Core team with X number of resources. The Core team is formed of X number of resources and is present during all the quarters of release testing. The Flexi team, however, keeps changing and is available only at the time when there is quarterly review planning. The Core team has definite resources and is allocated as per the project requirements. The Flexi team is also based on requirements, but it keeps changing based on project review requirements and resource allocations.

The concept of the Core delivery model in BAU testing is the allocation of X number of resources in all the quarters of release testing. In the Core delivery model, SMEs are allocated who ensure that the core platforms are tested for the system functionalities. They ensure that the systems are all set to release without zero functionality errors and are ready to support the business continuity plan and requirements.

The Flexi team, however, review the system quality each quarter to make sure that the systems meet business and industry standards. In the Core & Flexi delivery model for BAU testing projects, it is important to have the eligible consultants who meet the tier requirement and are ready to achieve the benchmark set by the organizations.

Following are a few of the reasons why Core and Flexi delivery model is important in BAU testing projects,

• Addressing both company, client and employee needs: In BAU projects Core & Flexi delivery can manage cost and control offerings. It can help to address the unique preferences described by the client. Hence, it will empower the services of the organization and give the employee a positive impact. 
• People allocation based on knowledge and expertise: Core and Flexi programs can help each employee to maximize their needs by cutting down unwanted services. Also, spending higher on the more important services can introduce Core and Flexi delivery. Hence, it will not only motivate the employee to work more but also help them to keep their needs checked.
• Control on costs: Implementing Core & Flexi services will allow companies to maintain the variety of their services and increase the scope. As the guidelines & parameters provided beforehand it can control the delivery chain and its costs. It can control expenses and minimize the wastage of resources.
• Reduction in exceptions & exclusions: As the development of guided flexibility has been made while building the program, the requirement of exceptions will be minimal to none. Also, Core/ Flexi delivery can help the mobility managers to address potential barriers and remove them as per requirement.
• Flexible delivery: Often, the requirements may change during the delivery time. So, analyzing the requirements and outcome, Core & Flexi delivery can help BAU projects to adjust during the delivery.  Hence, the project can be delivered by satisfying all the client’s needs.
• Flexible updates: Testing team will give their analysis on integration testing and system testing. The testing team will further conduct Acceptance testing and UI/ UX Testing, testing on regression test cases. After that, every change and update will be treated as separate projects and will be updated flexibly for Patch fixes. Adhoc fixes can be also updated as per requirements.

In brief, Core & Flexi delivery is the way to provide flexibility during the administration, design, and delivery of a BAU project. It also can help companies and organizations to enhance their talents by considering the unique needs of the client.

Conclusion:

System validation is a critical step in Business as Usual (BAU) projects. It follows a continuous cycle of requirement analysis, test cases design, test case execution, defect logging and retest, execution sign off, and regression test pack maintenance.

Business as Usual focuses on cost-saving and time-saving theories. Businesses can save both time and money by automating regression testing. They can implement automated testing for creating, executing, and maintaining regression packs. Automating regression cycles supports the patch set releases.

The Core & Flexi delivery model offers a smooth business experience. It also helps organizations to allocate technical experts based on the project requirements. The Core and Flexi delivery model helps in smooth product release always, ensuring the quality of the business model.

At Yethi, we envision a new way of offering QA services. We reduce the regression test burden by leveraging the best of our 5th generation automation tool, Tenjin. Our flagship test automation tool reduces the time of testing. We offer a Global QMS level transparency and quality by shifting your testing to the far left.

Our managed testing services are based on prediction and prevention optimized through Cognitive Computing. Our Testing Centre of Excellence comprises people from multi-disciplinary who have moved from inside out to outside in. Finally, our test automation tool is agnostic, which means it is highly resilient and takes on the shape based on project requirements.