A Bounty Hunting Approach In SAP S/4HANA Project Testing - why not?

[MichalKrawczyk]

Introduction

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the traditional approach to software testing, especially in projects like SAP S/4HANA, can often be seen as an area of inefficiency. Typically, businesses pay hefty sums to testing service providers/service integrators to validate their SAP projects (in most cases run by other or even the same Service Integrators), irrespective of the actual issues found. However, there's a growing call to change this paradigm towards a more results-oriented model, a concept reminiscent of healthcare practices. Rather than paying doctors daily to validate our health on daily basis, we pay only when we encounter health issues or when the doctors diagnose a problem. This bounty hunting approach could bring about radical changes in the SAP S/4HANA project testing field.

Main Concept

The crux of the bounty hunting approach lies in reorienting the payment structure in project testing. In this model, testing providers are compensated based on the issues they find rather than the time spent. It's a "pay for results" approach where testers are incentivized to identify and resolve issues in the project. This system mirrors the principle seen in cybersecurity, where "bug bounty" programs have been used with great success, rewarding individuals who identify and report software bugs.

The bounty hunting approach to SAP S/4HANA project testing could consist of a structured framework where the remuneration depends on the:

1. severity


2. criticality


3. impact of the issues found

More critical the bugs detected, higher the reward for the testers and their testing companies, creating a dynamic and proactive environment for comprehensive testing.

Why Does It Make Sense

This approach carries multiple advantages. It aligns the incentives of testing providers with the desired outcome by SAP customers: a thoroughly vetted, high-quality SAP productive system. It also introduces cost efficiency as businesses pay for value rather than the time consumed. Moreover, the competitive nature of this approach might lead to the discovery of more profound, complex issues that would otherwise be overlooked in a traditional time-bound testing scenario.

It could also eliminate the need for SAP customers to pay for testing software and push SAP testing service providers into using solutions which not only sound great (Ice Cream Cone – anti patterns of software testing) but allow them to find the largest number of issues.

In addition, it allows businesses to tap into a broader talent pool with the smartest people on the planet (think who is finding the cybersecurity issues – average developers?). Traditional testing often involves contracting a specific service provider, limiting the number of eyes on the project. However, a bounty-based approach can engage a diverse range of testers, with varying perspectives and expertise, leading to a more robust and holistic examination of the SAP S/4HANA project.

Conclusion

To enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of SAP S/4HANA project testing, businesses need to pivot from traditional practices. Embracing the bounty hunting approach might just be the key. By incentivizing the detection and resolution of issues, we not only streamline the testing process but also encourage the uncovering of deep-rooted, complex bugs. This model not only promotes cost efficiency but also the delivery of a higher-quality, rigorously tested software system. It's time to rethink the norms of software testing and align it with the spirit of innovation that drives the rest of the digital world.