New Perspectives Classic Labs

SYSTEM TESTING

In the System Testing Lab, you are responsible for testing the expert system designed for A&L Outfitters. You will discover if the expert system correctly determines how to cross-ship orders from one A&L outlet to another. If you do all the Lab Assignments in order, you will thoroughly test the system. Your instructor might select only one or two of these assignments, however; in that case you'll get just a flavor of the system testing process 

1.  Click the Steps button to learn how to place test data in A&L's inventory, and how to place test orders. As you proceed through the Steps, answer the Quick Check questions. After you complete the Steps, you will see a Quick Check Summary Report summarizing your answers. Follow the instructions on the screen to print this report.  

2.  When an item is not in stock at the destination outlet, but is in stock at one other outlet, the system should find the outlet that has the item in stock. In Explore, test A&L's system to see if it processes such orders correctly. To do this:

a. Use the View/Edit Inventory dialog box to make sure that only the Geneva outlet has item 3002 in stock. 

b. Place an order on the queue for item 3002 with Katmandu as the destination outlet. 

c. Process the order. The item is not in stock at the destination outlet, Katmandu, so the expert system should search the inventory of other outlets and find the item in Geneva. The picking ticket should show Ship From: Genv and Ship to: Katm.  

d. Design a test plan that tests at least one order from each outlet and that tests at least one order for each of the five inventory items. Carry out your test plan and record the results. Does the system correctly process orders for an item that is not in stock at the destination outlet, but is in stock at one of the other A&L outlets? If not, explain what the system does wrong, and how it should work.  

3.  When an item is not in stock at the destination outlet, but is in stock at two or more other outlets, the system should find the outlet with the lowest shipping cost. In Explore, conduct the following tests to see if such orders are processed correctly:

a. Use the View/Edit Inventory dialog box to make sure that only the Geneva and Telluride outlets have item 3002 in stock.b. Place an order for item 3002 with Katmandu as the destination outlet. 

c. Process the order. The item is not in stock at the destination outlet, Katmandu, but it is available in Geneva and Telluride. The expert system should select the outlet with the lowest shipping cost.  

d. Click the View Shipping Info button to check the shipping information. Click Katmandu, the destination outlet, to view the cost per pound and the time in days to ship an item to that outlet from each of the other outlets. Of the two outlets where this item is available (Geneva and Telluride), Geneva's shipping cost is lowest. The picking ticket should show Ship From: Genv.  

e. Design a test plan of five tests to further test how the system handles orders that are in stock at two or more outlets other than the destination outlet. Carry out your test plan and record the results. Did the system correctly process the orders in your test plan? If not, explain what the system did wrong, and how it should work.  

4.  When an item is in stock at two outlets with the same shipping cost, the system should find the outlet with the fastest shipping time. In Explore, conduct the following tests to see if such situations are processed correctly.  

 a. Click the View Shipping Info button, then click Guatemala City as the destination outlet. Notice that items shipped to Guatemala City from Lima and Geneva have the same shipping cost-$26 per pound. Also notice that items shipped from Lima will arrive faster-shipping takes 2 days from Lima, but 3 days from Geneva. Therefore, if an item is needed in Guatemala City, but it is in stock in Geneva and Lima, the expert system should select Lima. Let's test this.  

 b. Make sure item 3004 is in stock only in Lima and Geneva, then order item 3004 with Guatemala City as the destination.c. Process the order. Because the shipping cost is the same from Lima and Geneva, the expert system should select the outlet with the fastest shipping time. The picking ticket should show Ship From: Lima.  

d. Shipping rates are also the same from Telluride and Guatemala City to Geneva. Set up a test in which item 3005 needs to be shipped to Geneva, but is in stock only in Telluride and Guatemala City.  

e. Does the system correctly process an order for an item that is in stock at two outlets with the same shipping cost? If not, explain what the system does wrong, and how it should work.  

5.  In Explore, test the following scenario: if an item is not in stock in the destination outlet, but is in stock at two other outlets with the same shipping cost and the same shipping time, the system should find the outlet that has the highest quantity of the item in stock.  

a. There is one situation in which an item can be in stock in two outlets with the same shipping cost and the same shipping time. This situation arises if an item is in stock in Telluride and Guatemala City and is to be shipped to Katmandu. Make sure Telluride has two of item 3005 in stock, and Guatemala City has five of item 3005 in stock. Also make sure item 3005 is not in stock in any other outlets.  

b. Place an order on the queue for item 3005 with Katmandu as the destination outlet.  

c. Process the order. Because there are more of item 3005 in stock in Guatemala City, the picking ticket should show Ship From: Guatemala City.  

d. Does the system correctly process an order for an item that is in stock in two outlets with the same shipping cost and the same shipping time? If not, explain what the system does wrong, and how it should work.