Organizations need skilled systems professionals who can lead software testing, deployment, and maintenance efforts that ensure quality and reliability. This IBM course equips existing and aspiring Systems Architects, Solutions Architects, Systems Analysts, Software Engineers, IT Managers, Product Managers, Release Managers, QA Managers, and Business Analysts with the frameworks and coordination skills needed to deliver stable, production-ready systems.
Software Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance Strategies
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Software Testing, Deployment, and Maintenance Strategies
This course is part of multiple programs.
Instructors: John Rofrano
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Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level
Recommended experience
1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
What you'll learn
Create test plans and traceability matrices linking business needs to outcomes, and coordinate testing among QA teams, developers, and stakeholders
Build deployment checklists with clear launch steps, go/no-go criteria, rollback plans, and data validation techniques
Define key system metrics to support post-launch tracking, organize response plans, and guide improvement through retrospectives
Create a Testing and Release Kit with test strategy, validation checklist, and support plans for post-launch success
Skills you'll gain
- Software Quality Assurance
- Release Management
- Test Planning
- Software Development Life Cycle
- Risk Management
- CI/CD
- Application Deployment
- Performance Testing
- Product Lifecycle Management
- Test Driven Development (TDD)
- Software Testing
- Data Modeling
- Systems Analysis
- Process Flow Diagrams
- Behavior-Driven Development
- Data Validation
- Business Process Automation
- Systems Thinking
- System Testing
- Digital Transformation
Details to know
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Recently updated!
August 2025
Assessments
10 assignments
Taught in English
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There are 3 modules in this course
In this module, you will explore the key concepts of software testing and how it supports quality throughout the development process. You'll start by learning why testing matters, examining real-world examples of failures caused by poor testing. You'll also become familiar with different levels of testing, including unit, integration, system, and user acceptance testing, and understand how analysts contribute at each stage. Next, you'll dive into test planning and design. You'll learn about test coverage, how test cases are structured, and how traceability matrices help ensure that all requirements are tested. Hands-on activities will give you practice in reviewing and improving test plans. Finally, you'll be introduced to Test-Driven Development (TDD) and Behavior-Driven Development (BDD). You'll see how these approaches work, how they support collaboration, and how you can contribute using tools like Gherkin syntax.
What's included
13 videos2 readings4 assignments8 plugins
In this module, you鈥檒l walk through the steps involved in managing the software deployment, from pre-launch preparation to post-launch monitoring. You鈥檒l start by exploring the difference between deployment and release, along with the key activities involved, such as coordinating CI/CD workflows, handling stakeholder approvals, and planning rollback strategies. Next, you鈥檒l cover the steps involved in planning and validating data migration, a critical part of many projects. This includes mapping data from legacy to new systems, documenting the migration process, and confirming successful transfers using techniques like record counts, checksums, and dry runs. Finally, you鈥檒l be introduced to the processes that happen after deployment, including monitoring system performance, reviewing logs, and supporting continuous improvement. You鈥檒l also outline key metrics and build a maintenance schedule to help ensure long-term system stability. By the end of the module, you鈥檒l have a clear view of the full release cycle and the analyst鈥檚 role in making sure systems launch smoothly and continue to meet user and business needs.
What's included
9 videos1 reading4 assignments9 plugins
In this final module, you鈥檒l bring together all key concepts to build a complete Testing and Release Planning Kit for a fictional software system. This includes defining a testing strategy, validating data migration steps, planning the deployment workflow, and outlining post-release monitoring activities. The capstone simulates what a systems analyst would deliver to support cross-functional software delivery. You鈥檒l tailor your work to a scenario you create, using templates and frameworks introduced in earlier modules. As part of the process, you鈥檒l review success criteria, identify risks and rollback strategies, and ensure the software is prepared for a stable launch and long-term support. This project focuses on coordination, planning, and documentation related to testing, deployment, and post-launch maintenance and not on coding or software development.
What's included
2 videos2 readings2 assignments1 app item4 plugins
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Frequently asked questions
You鈥檒l learn how to plan and lead software testing, deployment, and maintenance activities from a systems professional鈥檚 perspective. You鈥檒l design test plans, manage CI/CD processes, validate data migration, and apply non-functional requirements like performance, scalability, and reliability to ensure software success.
This is an intermediate-level course. A basic understanding of the software development lifecycle will help you to get the most from this course. The course offers clear guidance and hands-on activities to help you build your skills and confidence as you progress.
Testing and deployment ensure that software is stable, secure, and production-ready before release. Effective testing prevents costly post-launch failures, while structured deployment minimizes risks and ensures smooth system rollout and user satisfaction.
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