Delivering Success with Silver-Level Testing.

Workday Finance: Delivering Success with Silver-Level Testing.

What exactly is silver level testing?

Silver level testing strikes a balance between thoroughness and efficiency, providing adequate coverage while considering time and resource constraints. While the specifics may vary depending on the context, silver level testing generally involves a balanced approach that goes beyond basic functionality testing but may not be as extensive or exhaustive as gold level testing. In the context of Workday, silver level testing may include:

  • Functional testing: Verifying that functionalities work according to its specifications and requirements.
  • Integration testing: Testing the interactions between different Workday and 3rd party systems.
  • Regression testing: Ensuring that changes or updates to the Workday do not adversely affect existing functionality.
  • Performance testing: Assessing the responsiveness, speed, and usage capabilities under various conditions.
  • Usability testing: Evaluating the user interface, user experience, and accessibility.

    Let’s explore the impact of silver level testing on Workday Finance implementations.

    Background:

    A prominent player in the Hospitality industry embarked on a journey to implement Workday Finance, aiming to streamline financial operations and enhance financial reporting capabilities across its diverse portfolio of properties. Leveraging a strategic approach to testing, the company opted for a silver-level testing strategy, which proved instrumental in ensuring project success.

    Impact:

    The implementation of Workday Finance with a silver-level testing approach had significant positive impacts on the hospitality company:

    • Streamlined Financial Operations: The deployment of Workday Finance enabled the company to streamline financial processes, improving efficiency and accuracy in financial transactions and reporting.
    • Enhanced Decision-Making: With improved access to real-time financial data and robust reporting capabilities, decision-makers within the company gained valuable insights to support strategic decision-making and financial planning.
    • Regulatory Compliance: Workday Finance’s built-in compliance features and adherence to industry standards ensured the company’s compliance with regulatory requirements, mitigating the risk of non-compliance penalties and fines.

    Root Cause:

    The decision to opt for a silver-level testing approach was driven by the company’s recognition of the need for a balanced testing strategy that prioritised critical functionalities while optimising resources and timelines. This approach allowed the company to achieve the desired level of testing coverage and quality assurance without overburdening project resources.

    Mitigations for Testing:

    To ensure the success of the Workday Finance implementation and optimise testing efforts, the hospitality company implemented the following mitigation strategies:

    • Testing Partnership: Established a strategic partnership with a testing consultancy specialising in Workday Finance deployments. This partnership provided access to testing expertise and resources, enabling the company to leverage best practices and industry standards in testing methodologies.
    • Silver-Level Testing Strategy: Adopted a silver-level testing approach, focusing on critical functionalities and high-impact areas while balancing resource constraints and project timelines. This approach ensured adequate testing coverage and quality assurance without excessive testing overhead.
    • User Training and Adoption: Conducted user training sessions and workshops to familiarise stakeholders with Workday Finance functionalities and testing processes. Training materials and user guides were developed to empower users with the knowledge and skills needed for effective testing and system adoption.
    • Continuous Monitoring and Feedback: Implemented mechanisms for continuous monitoring of testing activities and feedback collection from stakeholders. Feedback channels, such as user surveys, focus groups, and feedback forms, were established to gather insights and address user concerns throughout the testing process.

      Outcome:

      By adopting a silver-level testing strategy and leveraging strategic partnerships, the hospitality company successfully implemented Workday Finance and achieved its objectives for streamlining financial operations and enhancing reporting capabilities. The focus on critical functionalities, combined with efficient testing practices, ensured project success while optimising testing resources and timelines.

      Final Thoughts:

      This case study highlights the effectiveness of a balanced testing strategy and strategic partnerships in achieving project success in Workday Finance implementations within the hospitality industry. By adopting a silver-level testing approach and leveraging external expertise, companies can achieve their objectives for financial transformation while minimising risks and maximising the value of Workday Finance solutions.