synopsis

Original Software's product portfolio provides much of the functionality required of a quality assurance (QA) solution, and is aimed at automating manual processes for testing software deployed at the user interface level (e.g. .NET, VB, Silverlight, Ajax, Java, SAP, Lotus Notes, Flex etc.). In addition it supports testing at the database layer for IBM System i, Microsoft and Oracle environments. However, in 2009 the company deviated from its core testing focus to develop a new application quality management (AQM) tool it called Qualify. Qualify replaces the company's test planning and management tool TestPlan. But it is the product's broader scope for managing the quality of the software delivery process that places it in direct competition with a formidable and highly competitive supply market. This report looks at whether a product from a smaller and lesser known player – in respect to governing and managing the quality of the software delivery process – can play against more powerful incumbents.