A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk QA for Web Sites Brian Kelly UKOLN University of Bath Bath, BA2 7AY URL UKOLN is supported by:

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 2 Timetable Draft timetable 16:00-16:15Introduction 16:15-16:45What Is Quality / What Does It Mean For Web Sites? 16:45-17:00QA And The IWMW 2002 Web Site A Case Study 17:00-17:10Approaches To Testing 17:10-17:25Developing A QA Framework 17:25-17:30Conclusions

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 3 Background To QA Focus QA Focus: An advisory service for JISC’s 5/99 projects Provides advice and support for projects in order to ensure that projects comply with standards and best practices Provided by UKOLN and ILRT Managed by Brian Kelly, UKOLN and Karla Youngs, ILRT Service provided by Marieke Napier, UKOLN and Ed Bremner, ILRT This workshop session is informed by the work of QA Focus

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 4 Your Interests? What do you want to get from this session?

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 5 Group Exercise In small groups discuss the questions given in exercise 1 - What Is Quality? E

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 6 What is Quality? Quality: Is based on judgements by an individual or organisation Is fitness for purpose Corresponds to a rating Is based on acceptable performance Is meeting goals Is meeting requirements Various definitions are available – see the Pointer document for further information

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 7 What is Quality Control? Quality Control (QC) is the implementation of regular testing procedures against your definitions of quality and more specifically the refinement of these procedures Formal use of testing Acting on the results of your tests Requires planning, structured tests, good documentation Relates to output - Quality Circle Standards - ISO 9000 however there is currently no such standard for Web sites

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 8 What is Quality Assurance? Quality Assurance (QA) examines the processes that shape your Web site in the first place and so encompasses Quality Control. When good Quality Assurance is implemented there should be improvement in usability and performance and lessening rates of defects Relates to input - Quality Circle Should be involved in development stage of a Web site and throughout its life cycle

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 9 The Quality Cycle Refine site Quality Control Quality Assurance Quality output input Test results Create site Test site

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 10 Levels of QA QA is not the destination… …but the journey The QA timescale model which is being adopted by QA Focus: Strategic QA Workflow QA Sign-off QA On-going QA

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 11 Group Exercise In small groups discuss the questions given in exercise 2 - Problems On Your Web Site E

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 12 What Can Fail on Your Site? Domain name wrong or not usable Broken links, broken s Server load – too many hits on the site Client side performance –down load time Security isn’t working Content is out of date Browser incompatibility,HTML doesn’t validate Interface – navigation, link colour Graphics missing or too large Scripts don’t work - forms,databases Isn’t accessible to those with disabilities …

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 13 What Can You Test? Functional testing Compatibility testing Load/performance testing Stress testing Usability testing Security testing Integration of unit testing Link testing HTML Validation Reliability testing Regression testing …

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 14 What Procedures? Good documentation Requirements Specifications Mission statements or statement of direction Define your audience Testing suite and tools Use the right authoring tools etc. Track problems

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 15 Issues Goals for testing will be related to the kind of site you have Testing time is limited – use automated tools Motivating/persuading people to implement a QA Culture can be difficult Having a great team Documentation is critical – to make sure practices are repeatable Implement your QA procedures slowly over time to avoid stifling productivity QA planning at the start of development means less time fixing things at the end

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 16 IWMW 2002 Web Site: We will now look at a case study Approaches To Testing We will now look at approaches to testing P

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 17 Group Exercise In small groups discuss the questions given in exercise 3 - Developing A Quality Assurance Framework E

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 18 Report Back

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 19 Where To From Here? How should we progress from here?

A centre of expertise in digital information managementwww.ukoln.ac.uk 20 Any Questions?