Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
CoE for
Automation
Te st
Automation
Idle Time (5 Min)
Preparation Time (15 Min)
Processing Time (20 Min)
Figure 12.. Idle, preparation, and processing time for an automation part in
software test project.
To reduce preparation time, the test manager should assign tasks closely simi-
lar to what the resource was doing earlier. This way the preparation time can be
reduced. If the task is exactly the same as the one he was performing, then the
preparation time may be completely eliminated.
12.4.2
Idle Time
Resources finish their assignments and then wait for the next assignment to come.
This is their idle time.
To reduce idle time, a good database has to be maintained for resource alloca-
tion, and it can be queried when a resource becomes available for the next assign-
ment. Accordingly it should be assigned new tasks so that it is not idle at any time.
12.4. 3
Sequencing
Tasks of any project carry some kind of priority. Some tasks are not so urgent and
can be kept in queue while the urgent tasks are given higher priority and should
be taken earlier than the not-so-urgent ones. This way we can sequence tasks and
fulfill priority requirements.
At the project level, some projects have a higher priority than other projects.
These projects can be taken earlier than the other projects. So the sequencing of
projects can take place similar to what happens in sequencing of orders in manu-
facturing (see
Figures 12.8
and
12.9)
.
12.4.4
Disassembling
Many orders can contain line items that have different finished products but the
raw material or work-in-process material may be the same. For this reason the order
line items should be disassembled first to be aggregated later (see
Figures 12.10
and
12 .11).
Likewise software test projects can be dissected.
