Quickstart

This guide walks you through the essential steps to get started with Test & Accept. We'll cover creating your first project, developing a Statement of Work (SOW), setting up tests, and exporting your finalized documentation.

The Test & Accept Workflow

Test & Accept streamlines your project management and acceptance testing process through a structured workflow:

1. Create a project
2. Develop a Statement of Work
3. Define SOW items with acceptance criteria
4. Create test procedures for each Acceptance Criteria
5. Export final documentation
6. Version for future changes

Let's walk through each step to get you up and running quickly.

Step 1: Create a Project

Projects are the top-level organizational unit in Test & Accept.

1. Log in to your Test & Accept account
2. From the dashboard, click Create New Project
3. Enter your project details:
   • Project name
   • Description
   • Client information (if applicable)
   • Target dates
4. Click Create Project

Your new project will serve as the container for all related work, including Statements of Work, team assignments, and documentation.

Step 2: Create a Statement of Work

Each project can contain multiple Statements of Work (SOWs), defining specific deliverables and scope.

1. Navigate to your newly created project
2. Click New Statement of Work
3. Fill in the SOW details:
   • SOW name
   • Description
   • Timeline
   • Stakeholders
4. Click Create SOW

Step 3: Invite Team Members

Collaboration is key to successful project delivery. Invite team members to participate in your SOW.

1. From your SOW page, click Manage Team
2. Choose one of two options:
   • Add Followers: Team members who need visibility into the SOW
   • Add Approvers: Stakeholders required to approve the SOW
3. Enter email addresses of team members
4. Set appropriate permission levels
5. Click Send Invitations

Team members will receive email notifications with instructions to join the project.

Step 4: Build Your Statement of Work Items

SOW Items break down your deliverables into manageable, testable components.

1. From your SOW page, click Add SOW Item
2. For each item, include:
   • Title
   • Detailed description
   • Priority level
   • Dependencies (if applicable)
   • Target completion date
3. Organize items hierarchically if needed (parent/child relationships)
4. Click Save Item

Step 5: Define Acceptance Criteria

Each SOW Item needs clear acceptance criteria to define when it's considered complete.

1. Navigate to a SOW Item
2. Click Add Acceptance Criteria
3. For each criterion:
   • Write a clear, testable statement
   • Use the format "Given [context], when [action], then [expected result]" or "It can be confirmed that [expected condition]"
   • An acceptance criterion must have only one of two possible answers: true (passed) or false (failed)
   • Ensure the criterion is measurable and unambiguous with no room for partial success
4. Click Save Criteria

Step 6: Create Acceptance Test Procedures

Test procedures provide the step-by-step instructions for verifying each acceptance criterion.

1. From a SOW Item, click Add Test Procedure
2. For each acceptance criterion:
   • Link the test to the specific criterion
   • Define test setup requirements
   • List specific test steps
   • Specify expected outcomes
   • Add any necessary test data
3. Click Save Test

Step 7: Export Documentation

Once your SOW and tests are complete, you can export them in various formats for sharing and formal approval.

1. From the SOW page, click Export
2. Choose your preferred format:
   • PDF document
   • Markdown
   • HTML
   • Word document
3. Select content to include:
   • Full SOW with all items and tests
   • SOW summary
   • Test procedures only
4. Click Generate Export

The exported document provides a comprehensive record of project requirements and acceptance criteria that all stakeholders can reference.

Step 8: Version Control for Changes

As your project evolves, Test & Accept's versioning system tracks all changes.

1. To create a new version, click Create Version from the SOW page
2. Make your changes to the SOW, items, or tests
3. Click Publish Version
4. Optionally request approvals for the new version

Each version maintains a complete history, allowing you to compare changes over time.

What's Next?

Now that you've created your first project and SOW in Test & Accept, here are some next steps to explore:

• Learn about advanced SOW templates
• Discover how to integrate with your development tools
• Set up automated testing workflows
• Explore the root cause analysis tools to improve your processes

By following these steps, you've transformed a process traditionally fraught with failure into a structured workflow with traceable, measurable outcomes. Test & Accept helps you identify improvement opportunities at every stage, leading to higher quality deliverables and more successful projects.