2. Factors which affect testing

How critical is the system?

All new systems will be tested but the amount of testing which takes place will be dependent upon how critical the system is to the business. For example, a new customer records keeping system would need to be tested very thoroughly.

Time available

Another factor which affects the level of testing is the amount of time that has been allocated to this phase of the project. If testers only have one week to test the system they will inevitably not be able to do as thorough a job as if they had a month.

External constraints

Some systems will have to meet certain legal requirements or industry standards. For example, any software which controls safety critical features in cars, e.g. braking systems, must be tested to an industry standard. There will be an external audit to ensure that the testing covered all of key parts of the system and that everything was working as expected.