A dynamic life-cycle model for the provisioning of software testing services

Information and communications technology (ICT)-enabled international sourcing of software-intensive systems and services (eSourcing) is a powerful strategy for managing businesses more effectively. China is becoming a superpower for eSourcing service provisioning, but most Chinese providers are small- or medium-sized and leverage the mediated eSourcing model, delivering services to foreign ICT clients who interface with end-clients onshore. This model restricts the providers to low-value projects. This paper probes eSourcing of software testing services within the Chinese market because testing is one of the best ICT services small- and medium-sized providers can provide to develop domain and technological knowledge required to transcend the limitations of the mediated sourcing model. This paper draws upon a literature review and a case study to create and validate a life-cycle model for the provisioning of software testing services that helps providers to develop the capabilities for overcoming the limitations of mediated sourcing. This model helps clients and providers to dynamically manage the life-cycle, assigns specific responsibilities to the involved roles, and supports the tasks of the roles and the entire life-cycle with a class of integrated requirements, test, and defect management systems. This class is found to be the most important class of information systems for enabling the life-cycle.