Quality Assurance is one of Data Concepts’ core competencies and we provide the last word in Total Quality Management of software products and applications for our customers.

Data Concepts has built an efficient and effective QA Practice that has the capability to outsource the testing of partial pieces of projects or entire end to end enterprise applications. Data Concepts has developed expertise in offering Quality Assurance services to its clients in a form most suitable and aligned with the clients’ internal business needs and IT processes.

We offer effective third party objectivity in assessing, analyzing and testing your software application that may have been built by your internal IT team or some other software services vendor. We believe that this approach allows the customer to truly ensure that the application has been fully tested and meets the functional and performance expectations.

Reshmi, Lead QA Analyst

We have a no surprises approach that guarantees success. We have stringent processes in place that allow us to partner with our clients' internal Project Managers; Software Development teams, Business Analysts and/or the project stakeholders.

Data Concepts works in a flexible fashion with Customers looking to get their applications tested quickly and efficiently. We can test your complete application or any pieces of it that your internal QA team may not be able to accommodate.

Our Approach

At Data Concepts, we have mastered the art of bringing together the best practices of Project Planning, Project Management and the QA Methodology. We have QA teams with the skills and experience to deliver the best solutions and provide results at a very high standard.

We take a very aggressive approach for every QA Assignment, and as per best practices, we get involved in a customer's software development lifecycle at the outset.

Data Concepts is a proponent of the Rational Unified Process (RUP) and Agile methodologies. Our QA Practice follows the RUP guidelines and ties the Testing lifecycle phases to the RUP phases. Even though a client may not be following the RUP process for its software development, Data Concepts maps its QA Process to the SDLC plan as best as possible.

Our Test Methodology

Inception Phase

• Test Requirements Analysis: Data Concepts reviews and understand the Software Requirements Specification [Use Cases; Business Rules Narratives etc] documents. This includes understanding the benchmarks for functional, performance, and security requirements, among other requirements
• Test Planning

Elaboration Phase

• Create Test Plan
• Create Test Scenarios

Construction Phase

• Create Test Cases / Test Scripts
• Begin Functional / System Testing

Transition Phase

• Integration Testing
• System Testing [Functional & Usability Testing]
  • Execute Test Cases
  • Defect Logging and Bug tracking
• Regression Testing
• Performance Testing
• User Acceptance Testing [UAT] – Conducted by client
  • Regression Testing of UAT Bug fixes by Data Concepts QA Team.

In the above diagram from Rational Software, please notice the varying levels of Testing in each phase. Although, the maximum Testing effort is in the Transition phase, it is imperative that the QA Team is involved in the software development lifecycle from the outset.

For mid sized or large projects, the above steps are repeated for every iteration. Each phase has a deliverable that will be shared and reviewed by the customer and hence, enable a close working partnership throughout the lifecycle. We understand that more process means more time and money from a client's limited resources. As mentioned earlier, we work with each client to tailor our process to their needs and constraints and still offer a practical solution. We modify our process to suit each client’s need without compromising on the minimum standards needed to do the job as per the customer's expectations.

Delivery Model

Data Concepts has onshore and offshore facilities to enable our clients to utilize a delivery model that is most suitable them. Both models are completely transparent and effective with minor nuances of advantages of one over the other besides the obvious cost advantage of the offshore model. Both models can be used in conjunction and balance to offer the optimal solution for every client. Please click to read more about our Delivery Model.

Infrastructure

Data Concepts uses tools and technologies aggressively to manage QA Projects for its customers. Data Concepts has the physical networking and hardware infrastructure for complete end to end testing.

Testing Tools & Technologies

Data Concepts has in-house expertise in testing tools including Mercury’s WinRunner, LoadRunner, Test Director; Rational's Clear Quest; SQA Robot; Silk; Bugzilla; JMeter; etc.

Data Concepts retains the following tools and technologies to operate its QA Practice:

• Automated Defect Management and Bug Tracking tools
  • Customers can login over the web to review bug reports
  • Customers can enter bugs in UAT phase
• Test Case Management tool
• Automated Testing Tools
  • Functional Testing Tools
  • Performance Testing Tools
• SharePoint portal for sharing resources internally and with clients

Hardware

• Desktops (Windows and Linux)
  • Pentium IV Processors
  • RAM ranging from 256 MB to 2 GB
• Operating systems
  • Windows 98, 2000 professional and XP professionals
  • Server including 2000advance server and 2003 server
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 WS
  • MAC Tiger 10
• Secure access to client facilities via VPN and Remote Desktop
• Network storage capacity
• Virus protection via firewall and antivirus software
• Data back up and Recovery Procedures

Our Security Policy

• Non-Disclosure Agreements
• Project-related IP Protection
• Confidential Document Control
• Employee Proprietary confidentiality and invention agreement
• Secure mode of communication channels