Aegon Case Study
A true partnership and skills transfer mentality was forged that
certainly helped delivery.
Aegon is one of the World’s leading listed life insurance companies employing more than 27,000 people worldwide.
With a main business focus on life insurance and pensions, savings and investment products, the group is also active in accident and supplemental health insurance and general insurance.
Aegon encourages product innovation and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit within its businesses. New products and services are developed by local business units, with a continuous focus on cost control, using a multi-brand, multi-channel distribution approach to meet customers’ needs.
Aegon Asset Management (AAM) recently became a self sufficient operation under the Aegon umbrella. This has led to the inception of a self contained IT unit within which SDLC regularly works.
The Project
One of the many challenges the AAM faced was a need for an auditable Global Testing Strategy which complied with industry regulations. SDLC was appointed to work alongside the AAM Test Manager to devise and implement such a strategy while business-as-usual activities continued.
The Global Testing Strategy was developed to cover the two-tier nature of software development – in house and 3rd party applications. The strategy also encompassed the use of test tools. Compuware’s QACentre suite had previously been purchased and was being used to run overnight batch jobs.
The AAM dealing system was selected to pilot the strategy. Standard testing documentation was established, ISEB standard methodologies were introduced and AAM staff were mentored throughout the process. During the project, SDLC placed key test resources alongside the Aegon Test Analysts and applied the tool to another large development project to achieve testing of large, complex data loads. After project implementation, scripts were lifted and used as a regression test pack. SDLC continued providing support throughout the process and developed a further three regression packs for the largest Aegon systems.
A business requirements gathering exercise was also conducted. AAM had to ensure its accounting system was upgraded to meet new FSA rules. SDLC was called in to complete the exercise within a tight deadline. This also provided AAM with the opportunity to train Business Analysts in new information gathering techniques.
Julie Harrap, Test Manager, Aegon comments: “SDLC was chosen as service provider for this project due to their flexibility, cost effectiveness and experience within this field. SDLC has proven to be an approachable and co-operative partner and has provided Aegon with excellent training, mentoring and continued support for each of the test packs produced. All the consultants are responsive and throughout the project have fully supported our Test Analysts and imparted knowledge wherever possible.”
Key Benefits
- Business continuity maintained throughout the strategy and tool implementation.
- A true partnership and skills transfer mentality was forged that certainly helped delivery.
- The work packages were owned, monitored and delivered on time and within budget.
- Using a cost effective process quality in applications deployed was improved.