6 Part 6: V-Modell Reference Activities

6.3 Activities

6.3.5 Evaluation

6.3.5.6 Evaluating Process

Purpose

Process testing, also called process audit, means testing individual steps of an overall process. In process testing not the result of a process step, such as a document, but the execution of the step itself, which is characteristic of the process, has to be tested on the basis of agreed process descriptions. The aim is to determine whether the processes listed in the »QA Manual fulfill their allocated specifications (»Evaluation Specification Process).

By way of process testing it can also be determined that the actually executed process is better than the process depicted in the process description. Should it turn out that it is possible to optimize the process description, it has to be adapted to the real process.

In process testing possibly all processes in the project may have to be tested, with the planning processes and the project management having higher priority. Process testing may be arranged on the basis of the experience or »Metrics of earlier projects. In some processes testing may also be initiated by an event in the project, such as the deviation of a measurable quantity from a specified value. Testing will often also be initiated when problems occur, if there are for example serious deviations of planning from the actual state. In this case process testing is to reveal the cause of the problems.

When testing the process, it shall be examined at first whether the formal requirements for the »Evaluating Process have been met. The process shallbe analyzed and evaluated. This may be done on the basis of the following criteria list:

• Is the process intelligible, clear, well structured and complete?
• Have all subprocesses and steps that make up the process that is to be tested been executed?
• Are all evaluation criteria against which the process is to be tested documented, precise and intelligible?
• Have all applicable guidelines, standards and templates been complied ?

After testing the contents it has to be determined whether the individual steps of the actual process are executed in accordance with the requirements contained in the »QA Manual and the »Evaluation Specification Process.

During the test the results shall be laid down in the test log. Additionally, process deviations shall be documented so that they can be traced, and a summary and an assessment shall be provided. Beyond that, the test may be used for the classification of suppliers by auditing their processes. This may be done for example in the form of supplier audits.

When testing QA activities themselves, generally a suitable allocation of roles shall be provided to avoid role conflicts. Furthermore, the project management shall always be informed about the evaluation result.