Users have a major role to play in the development phase and the integration phase for information systems. The development phase involves code development, software developing and infrastructure development. Also, deliverables are built and tested . Risks are identified and they are addressed as they are noticed. The development and integration phase may be the most frustrating, volatile; challenging and most stimulating part of the whole process, hence the need for testing. User acceptance and usability testing, regression testing, database testing, code component testing, infrastructure testing, integration testing, security testing, stress, capacity and performance testing are all carried out. Therefore, testing is an empirical investigation that has to be carried out. The results reveal the systems quality and suitability. Also, it does not confirm that a system functions properly under all imaginable conditions but facts can be established that the system will fail under certain conditions. If a defect is discovered in the development process, it is less expensive to fix it rather than being discovered at a later stage. Testing the systems early reduces to the barest minimum the risks of delaying schedules or increasing costs due to unacceptable or incomplete components especially for security and performance. Acceptance testing by the end users confirms that the developed system has satisfied them as the requirements and the business needs have been adequately taken care of.
References
(2012) http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb497041.aspx
(2012)http://doit.maryland.gov/SDLC/Documents/SDLC%20Phase%2007%20Integration%20and%20Test%20Phase%20Multiple%20Hardware.pdf
