Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V)

Software development efforts are complex, time consuming and prone to error. Errors occur either by misunderstanding requirements or a programming effort that doesn’t align with those requirements. Verification & Validation (V&V) has become a challenging process with the involvement of increasing complexity from technology, software sourcing, compliance, security, and other areas. Senate®’s V&V Practice was set up as a Center of Excellence (CoE) and has been growing rapidly in almost all business units. We have focused on core testing as a horizontal while building domain expertise over time at the other end.

Your goal should be to mitigate these risks, in all possible ways to us.

Business is increasingly reliant upon global IT services to deliver its strategic objectives in a cost-effective and faster manner. As IT systems become more complex, it’s imperative that professional testing is undertaken throughout the development lifecycle, from business case to production. By placing testing at the heart of every change project, Senate® ensures IT continually meet your business needs and delivers tangible business value.
We have developed exceptional testing skills and methodologies derived from more than 30 years’ of experience in this field. Our results-based solutions:

• Reduces risk
• Improves  quality
• Lowers cost and improves time to market
• Ensures that the impact of IT alterations on your business remains predictable

The Senate® Approach
Senate® takes a holistic view to IV&V. While the software itself is important, we know that the business process management practices surrounding that development are equally important. Senate® not only focuses on software coding but also looks at the entire software development life cycle. Project scope, resources, communication flow, workflow, project schedule elements, and project deliverables are independently reviewed by Senate®’s IV&V teams. The review process is carried out to verify that goals meet project requirements, are well defined, and are mapped to a project management plan. Risks are defined, accounted for, and mitigated through advance planning.
Senate® has an arsenal of tools and techniques used to review and evaluate a broad range of work products and processes. Our all-inclusive approach addresses:
Smart application development leverages technology and experience to create an application with a focus on today and an eye on tomorrow.

• Project Plan Review
• Requirements Analysis & Tracing
• Traceability Matrix
• Architecture Design Analysis
• Software Design Analysis
• Software Code Review
• Metrics Development
• Metrics Measurement, Assessment and Control
• Security Assessments
• Test Readiness
• Test Planning, Execution, and Reporting
• Training/Documentation Evaluation
• Acceptance Testing
• Defect Management, tracking & Investigation
• Support

In each of these areas, Senate® has well-defined techniques to review, assess and make recommendations that will keep your project on track. Our process-driven approach examines: project plans, earned value reporting, staffing assignments, quality assurance plans, requirements specifications, design documentation, and integration and system testing processes and documents.
Senate® clearly views the whole picture. That’s the reason why, we can do it all, or we can focus our approach to specific activities in response to a specific requirement. We, at Senate® know the life-cycle context of the work is being performed. We approach each assignment with full recognition of the elements that impact our work. Furthermore, we understand the importance our recommendations to the remaining software project. Dedicated to the success of your software, our task execution is precise and thorough.

How Senate® can help you?
Senate® has defined and implemented client/domain-specific quality assurance methodologies and process tool kits, by adopting a flexible, component-based approach. This is done with special emphasis on repeatability and reusability to accelerate project cycles and improve quality.
Our thought-leadership position in testing is backed by deep vertical experience, a specialized team and state-of-the-art test factory facilities. With our unique approach to testing, we:

• Involve in Resource Optimization
• Reduce business risk with our controlled, effective and efficient processes
• Lower the cost of testing up to 50 per cent
• Improve the quality of your testing processes and of your final products and services
• Improve time to market by up to 50 per cent
• Ensure you receive the right mix of skills, at the right location, within the budget through our blended delivery model
• Maintain predictability because the development process is manageable and business outcomes are known in advance

Quality Assurance & Testing
Senate® has put together a comprehensive portfolio of QA and testing services. They are designed to ensure that ISVs can deliver reliable and robust products to the marketplace in a short duration. These services effectively address the functionality, usability and performance testing aspects of the product. We can assist in the entire product development life cycle – including requirements phase, architecting the test strategy, tools selection, code reviews, building the test suites, test execution to final builds and product releases.
Senate® follows a verification-and-validation methodology that is highly holistic, streamlined, efficient and concisely measured. Our deep knowledge and extensive adoption of industry leading quality practices are based on ISO standards, CMMI Models and Six Sigma techniques. These quality practices help us to deliver products with exceptional quality and provide services with optimal cost.
We have serviced many Fortune 500 clients in the areas of Software Quality Assurance strategy and process improvement, test automation, test planning and execution, and test base maintenance. Our clients benefit from reduced post production defects and higher predictability. Our ‘round–the-clock' global delivery testing model helps reduce costs up to 50% and significantly shorten delivery schedules. This results in faster time-to-market and optimum ROI.

Quality Certification & Standards Drive the Process
Senate® executes all IV&V design and testing activities in a professional manner and in accordance with established IV&V standards. Our processes are based on SEI/CMMI standards, ISO 9001 procedures, and IEEE Standards such as 730 (Standard for Quality Assurance Plans) and 829 (Standard for Software Test Documentation).
The professionalism of our team is evident. Senate® IV&V staff holds a variety of certifications including: Certified Quality Analysts (QAI), Certified Quality Auditors (ASQ), Certified Quality Improvement Associates (ASQ), Certified Software Test Engineers (QAI), and ISTQB Certification.

Communicating the Outcomes
IV&V isn’t the end product, it’s a process. It is the ability to effectively communicate IV&V outcomes that make the difference. Clearly communicating the corrections necessary to bring a project back on course is essential to the success of IV&V team. Senate®’s IV&V staff is made up of individuals who not only understand the in and out of software development, but also have:

• Outstanding people skills essential to understand client cultures, politics, and needs
• Congenial interpersonal skills to integrate smoothly with software teams and  work effectively
• Effective communication skills essential to present findings in a manner that clearly displays the areas of concern and points out their resolution.

A Focus on Customer Satisfaction
In every way, Senate® focuses on earning clients trust. We do this through honest and ethical practices, comprehensive expertise in all aspects of software development and testing, effective integration into client processes and work flows and clear communication. By selecting Senate®, you select a company large enough to provide knowledgeable resources wherever and whenever they are needed. But you also get a company that is small enough to be responsive and agile in meeting new requirements as they emerge.