Evaluating the software test strategy for the 2000 Sydney Olympics

The 2000 summer Olympic Games event was a major information technology challenge. With a fixed deadline for completion, its inevitable dependency on software systems and immense scope, the testing and verification effort was critical to its success. One way in which success was assured was the use of innovative techniques using ODC based analysis to evaluate planned and executed test activities. These techniques were used to verify that the plan was comprehensive, yet efficient, and ensured that progress could be accurately measured. This paper describes some of these techniques and provides examples of the benefits derived. We also discuss the applicability, of the techniques to other software projects.