What is the best method for testing program changes in a change management process?

Tracing modified programs to supporting change tickets is a highly effective method for testing program changes within a change management process. This approach allows for verification that every change made to the program is adequately documented and aligned with the corresponding change requests. By ensuring that there is a direct correlation between the change tickets and the actual changes in the program, this method helps to confirm that all modifications were approved and executed as intended.

This process enhances accountability and supports tracking of who authorized changes, when they were made, and the purpose behind those changes. It also facilitates compliance with organizational policies and external regulations by providing a clear audit trail. Moreover, this method ensures that the integrity of the program is maintained, as it reassures stakeholders that changes were systematically controlled and adhered to established guidelines.

In contrast, selecting a sample of change tickets for authorization may not provide a comprehensive view of all changes made, as it only reviews a subset, potentially overlooking unauthorized modifications. Performing a walk-through of the program change, while helpful for understanding the changes, may not effectively confirm their documentation or appropriateness in the context of the overall change management process. Likewise, using query software to analyze change tickets can assist in identifying trends or discrepancies but does not inherently validate the correlation between the changes made and the