Rapid Workday Deployments: Opting For Bronze Quality.

Rapid Workday Deployments: Going For Bronze Quality.

What is bronze level testing?

In the context of Workday testing, bronze level testing refers to a basic level of testing that focuses on assuring the core functionalities of Workday applications. It typically involves minimal testing effort and coverage, primarily targeting critical features and processes without delving into more complex scenarios or test cases.

Bronze level testing may include the following characteristics:

  • Core functionality testing: Verifying that essential features and functionalities of Workday applications, such as employee data management, payroll processing, benefits administration, and time tracking, are working as expected.
  • Basic integration testing: Testing basic integrations between Workday modules or with external systems to ensure data consistency and flow between different components.
  • Limited regression testing: Conducting basic regression testing to verify that recent changes or updates to Workday configurations or customisations have not introduced critical defects or regressions.
  • Minimal performance testing: Performing basic performance tests to assess the responsiveness and stability of Workday applications under normal usage conditions, with limited emphasis on scalability or load testing.
  • Simple security testing: Conducting basic security checks to ensure that Workday applications adhere to standard security protocols and best practices, such as user authentication, data encryption, and role-based access control.
  • Limited usability testing: Evaluating the user interface and overall user experience of Workday applications to identify any obvious usability issues or navigation challenges.

Overall, bronze level testing provides a foundational level of assurance regarding the stability and functionality of Workday applications but may not uncover more complex or nuanced issues that could impact system performance or user satisfaction. It serves as a starting point for testing efforts and may be appropriate for initial implementations or projects with limited resources or time constraints. However, for critical or high-risk deployments, you may need to supplement bronze level testing with higher levels of testing (like silver or gold), to ensure holistic quality assurance.

Background

A prominent manufacturing company, known for its commitment to innovation and operational excellence, made the strategic decision to deploy Workday Adaptive Planning to enhance its financial planning and analysis capabilities. The company opted for a rapid deployment approach to expedite the implementation process and accelerate time-to-value.

Impact:

The decision to opt for Bronze Quality in the rapid deployment of Workday Adaptive Planning had significant impacts on the manufacturing company:

  • Accelerated Deployment: The rapid deployment approach enabled the manufacturing company to expedite the implementation process, quickly onboard users, and start leveraging Workday Adaptive Planning functionalities for financial planning and analysis.
  • Critical Path Validation: The focus on critical path validation of in-scope items ensured that essential components of Workday Adaptive Planning were thoroughly tested and validated to meet the company’s immediate business needs and objectives.
  • Resource Optimisation: By prioritising critical path validation and bronze quality standards, the manufacturing company effectively optimised resources and minimised project timelines and costs associated with Workday Adaptive Planning deployment.

Root Cause:

The decision to opt for Bronze Quality in the rapid deployment of Workday Adaptive Planning was driven by the manufacturing company’s strategic objectives to achieve rapid time-to-value and operational efficiency. By prioritising critical path validation of in-scope items, the company aimed to focus resources and efforts on essential components of Workday Adaptive Planning implementation.

Mitigations for Testing:

To ensure the successful deployment of Workday Adaptive Planning and mitigate potential testing challenges, the manufacturing company implemented the following mitigation strategies:

  • Testing Partnership: Established strategic partnerships with testing consultancies specialising in Workday Adaptive Planning testing services. These partnerships augmented in-house testing capabilities and provided expertise for comprehensive testing and validation of critical path items.
  • Critical Path Validation: Prioritised critical path validation of in-scope items to ensure that essential components of Workday Adaptive Planning, such as budgeting, forecasting, and reporting functionalities, were thoroughly tested and validated to meet immediate business needs.
  • Bronze Quality Standards: Adhered to bronze quality standards for rapid deployment, focusing on critical path validation and essential functionalities to expedite the implementation process and achieve rapid time-to-value.
  • User Training and Support: Conducted user training and provided ongoing support to ensure that employees were adequately trained and equipped to leverage Workday Adaptive Planning functionalities effectively for financial planning and analysis.
  • Continuous Improvement: Established mechanisms for continuous improvement and feedback collection to identify areas for optimisation and enhancement in Workday Adaptive Planning processes and functionalities post-implementation.

    Outcome:

    By implementing these mitigation strategies, including testing partnerships and critical path validation, the manufacturing company successfully achieved its objectives for Workday Adaptive Planning deployment. The focus on bronze quality standards and critical path validation expedited the implementation process, enabling the company to realise rapid time-to-value and operational efficiency with Workday Adaptive Planning.

    Final Thoughts:

    This case study highlights the strategic decision of a manufacturing company to opt for bronze quality in the rapid deployment of Workday Adaptive Planning. By prioritising critical path validation and leveraging testing partnerships, the company successfully accelerated the implementation process, optimised resources, and achieved rapid time-to-value with Workday Adaptive Planning, driving operational efficiency and strategic decision-making capabilities.