Manager: User and Business Acceptance Testing
Job Spec
Title of position: Manager: User and Business Acceptance Testing
Number of subordinates: 5 Level: L-M3 Time span: 1-2 years
Mission/ Core purpose of the Job: To enable continuous business performance improvement of
by managing Quality Assurance. Includes managing the execution of user acceptance testing of process,
system and data
Context: (Global influences, environmental / industry demands, organisational mission, etc.)
· Highly dynamic and fluctuating Telecommunications industry
· Fast moving industry
· Context changes in terms of technology advancements
· Need for automation and quick turnaround times
· ISO9000, 9002
· User Acceptance Testing best practices and standards
· Quality Assurance best practices and standards
Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)
Task Complexity: Indicates those KPA’s that are essential to the position itself. These are normally specific to the incumbent,
the job, and the function. Excludes role and leadership / management.
User Testing Management
· Manage the demand of user testing requirements
· Oversee the review of user requirement specifications
· Coordinate the review and prioritisation of user testing requirements
· Write the specification of what user testing is required (the total solution) – including system and process
· Manage the compilation of test cases
· Initiate new/changed functionality
Quality Assurance
· Give input into testing project plans
· Manage user acceptance testing conducted on data, system and processes. Ensure errors are logged on
appropriate systems
· Select tools to be used to develop automated testing and test automated test runs
· Put plans in place to ensure the accurate and timeous testing of solutions
· Assist in testing solutions where required
· Monitor input into / develop manual test plans
· Monitor the use of tools and conduct ongoing research and benchmarking in order to develop automated testing,
aligned to technical advancements and best practice
· Oversee the testing of / test automated test runs
· Develop / monitor the development of test cases
· Monitor the execution of test cases
· Research and develop ways to automate test cases
· Evaluate the results of solution tests to ensure these work against the specifications that have been set.
· Amend and improve on solutions where required
· Monitor / conduct static testing
· Oversee the build of testing processes, including regression testing and testing at implementation
Reporting / information management
· Assume accountability for reporting on testing statistics
· Develop a framework for the documentation of test cases
· Ensure the documentation of test cases according to the defined processes
· Evaluate documentation and reports in order to construct, implement / fine-tune methods,
processes / systems to enhance effectiveness / better meet organisational goals
· Customer Satisfaction (internal)
· Build and maintain solid relationships with all stakeholders
· Understand customer needs and develop and fine-tune systems accordingly
· Ensure customer needs and requirements (specifications) are satisfied through appropriate systems
/ processes / procedures
· Put contingency plans in place to prevent delays and enhance the customer experience
· Adopt a proactive approach to prevent problems from arising in the future
· Drive continuous improvement as an important element of service delivery
· Identify trends / patterns pertaining to customer requests and needs to continually improve all aspects
of service delivery
Supervisory / Leadership / Managerial Complexity: Refers to the responsibilities for directing, guiding, motivating and influencing others.
· Recruit, develop and retain people with outstanding skills, qualifications and potential
· Define the divisional KPAs and KPIs that will be cascaded down to each area
· Ability to evaluate and assess people performance
· Understand the need to train and develop staff to be able to use resources optimally and enhance performance
· Deploy and redeploy resources to get the work done
· Build and enforce a customer centric approach
· Build talent by identifying and developing new leaders for the respective environment
· Employee relations and collaborative teamwork
· Manage Employment Equity and diversity
· Coaching and guidance of subordinates
· Build professionalism, loyalty and commitment to the organization
· Communicate actively and effectively resolving any potential conflicts that may arise
· Display insight into leadership style and how it impacts on performance positively and negatively
· Have the self insight and flexibility to adapt to different situations
· Manage boundaries that separate units in order to optimise workflow
· Living the Brand – changing and influence employees behaviour
Role Complexity: Does not refer to the various “roles” that the incumbent has to assume in the conducting of the duties.
Instead, this would be additional complexity that should not be inherent in this position, but the incumbent has
responsibility for.Example HR Managers having to manage an IT function.
Lateral Dimensions: These indicate the areas where the individuals could contribute uniquely in addition
to the indicated duties, as well as how they could be affected by others or circumstances not necessarily
under their control.
Creativities (improvement/innovation inherent) Indicates the potential for improvement and / or innovation
inherent in a position.
· Apply market research in an optimal way to add as much value as possible to other areas of the business
· Proactive research and speedy communication of results and recommendations to the relevant areas to build
a competitive advantage
· Recommend innovative solutions to enhance ’s performance
· Deploy and redeploy resources in the most effective way (using minimum resources to achieve
maximum outputs)
· Make continuous improvements at system, process and procedure level
· Identify and exploit new opportunities to grow the business further
· Encourage continuous service improvement
· Proactively seek information on business issues, particularly outside the unit which may impact on the unit
· Implement cost-saving activities
· Highlight problems and / or opportunities in different systems, which are not always clear to user
of those systems
· Continuously review system functionality and identify creative ways to enhance the business
use/support of the system.
· Find new ways of testing specific functionality
Vulnerabilities (control span) Refers to the latent difficulties, or things that could potentially go wrong
that affect a specific position. Such vulnerabilities may / may not be under the control of the incumbent.
Direct implication or first level of impact.
· Evolution of technology
· Reliance on the stability and availability of systems
· Ineffective support from key stakeholders
· Customer dissatisfaction
· Non-achievement of turnaround times
· Inappropriate processes resulting in delayed service to clients
· Non-achievement of turnaround times
· Inappropriate processes resulting in delayed service to customers
· Lack of support and buy-in from stakeholders
· Lack of resources and expertise to perform the work
· Budgetary constraints that impact on action plans
· Lack of control over budgets
· Prescriptive regulatory environment impacting on solution development
· Dependent on the priorities of other functional units and strategic priorities of the company
· Poor planning and forecasting to adequately meet the needs of the unit
· Lack of configuration management
· Poor quality of developed systems
Authorities: As per delegation of authority
Minimum Requirements - minimum necessary, and not the ideal / preferred should be included.
Education:
· B Degree or Information systems related Diploma with extensive relevant experience
Experience:
· At least 5 years experience in the planning and execution of user acceptance testing
· At least 2-3 years of leadership experience in similar positions, in fast-moving industries
· Business analysis and business process experience
· Experience in application of automated test tools
Training:
· Business analysis
· Business process
· Systems
Competencies
Skills / physical competencies:
· People management and leadership skills – the ability to hire the right people, get the best out of people,
· and make sound people management decisions
· Feedback skills
· Coaching skills – to develop the team and staff
· Scanning skills – to search for new ideas, trends and principles
· Strong “can-do“ attitude combined with an ability to use minimum resources to get maximum outputs
· Systems thinking – understanding the “big picture”
· Delegating skills
· Business acumen – an understanding of the business as a whole
· Analytical skills
· Planning skills
· Conflict management skills
· Communication skills
· Time management, specifically the ability to prioritise
· Flexibility – the ability to adapt and change in the light of changing circumstances / new information
· Culture diversity management skills
· Stress management skills
KPA Quality Standards
· Objectives set for the unit
· Dissemination of information
· Implementation of testing plans
· Level of errors post implementation
· Timeliness and accuracy of Quality Assurance deliverables
· Initiated improvement in System functionality
· Timely reporting and the accuracy thereof
· Quality of reports
· Customer satisfaction index (CMAT targets)
· Team motivation
· Employee satisfaction index
· Staff development
