Automating Expert-Defined Tests: A Suitable Approach for the Medical Device Industry?

Testing is frequently reported as a crucial stage in the software development process. With traditional approaches acceptance testing is the last stage of the process before release to customer. Acceptance Test Driven Development (ATDD) promotes the role of an expert customer in defining tests and uses tool support to automate and execute these tests. Here the challenge is to support such an expert in the reuse of existing documentation. This paper details an experiment in a generic domain while outlining plans for development of an automated testing model that could assist medical device companies to adhere to regulatory guidelines by providing them with a fully traceable testing artifacts.