Testing and transition: the final days of system development

Abstract

As part of existing tasking, the Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) requested that Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) assist with writing test scenarios for the formal testing of the Worldwide Port System (WPS) Regional Integrated Cargo Database (ICDB). In collaboration with MTMC, ORNL wrote almost 600 Test Conditional Reports (TCRs), which were used to test specific functional processes. In addition, ORNL prepared the overall test order, managed tracking of problem reports and code uploads, and interacted with the testers throughout the entire testing period. Because ORNL provided analysis and design for ICDB and because ORNL was intimately involved in development, it was unusual to be so deeply involved in system testing. This document reports on the testing process and on lessons learned. ORNL also assisted MTMC during the initial implementation period and during transition from a developmental to a production system. A maintenance contractor was hired for ICDB, and ORNL assisted this contractor in preparing for system maintenance responsibilities. This document reports on this transition period also.