Anything else to test?

Working with Information Systems and Reports can be quite funny. Here is the example of what appeared in mailbox as only for information:

Hello,

we will apply new billing engine in two days and we have meant to make IT tests. Do you have any suggestion what else to test?

Regards

Signed: IT expert with 12 years of experience 

Who dares to say that office humor is boring? Even small change in billing system can change complete revenue reporting logic. In other words all revenue reporting might become wild and non useful. 

Off course without testing on customer side IT testing is worthless. IT testing serves more to test quantity and structure of data stock but without deep understanding what is behind figures. Customer testing with standard reports and specific analytic acceptance testing is the major testing thing. Standard and custom made reports (tests) on customer side does not only test how well is information system upgraded but also tests process and business logic. This is the main testing thing.

To return back to mail massage, such saying would not be funny from greenhorn IT colleague. But it is funny that somebody that works for more than a decade asks ridicoluos thing.

Here is the answer:

• We need to test everything including all the reports, functionalities, structure and finally resulting aggregations.
• Your tests will not show much.
• We need time and resources to prepare testing.
• We need to agree upon testing schedule.
• We have to make mutually testing and acceptance documentation.