Master User Acceptance Testing UAT - Project Manager's Guide

Name: Master User Acceptance Testing UAT - Project Manager's Guide
Rating: 4.7 (291 reviews)

Run successful UATs | Improve your Project Management skills | Improve Software Releases | Avoid Project Failure

Created byRobert Hean

Last updated 12/2025

English

What you'll learn

Create effective plans for running and managing a UAT
Understand the importance of building buy-in in order to run a successful UAT
Collect and analyze metrics to improve how a UAT operates
Create useful UAT documentation including writing updates and tracking templates

Course content

7 sections • 36 lectures • 2h 40m total length

What is a UAT?4:51
This lecture overviews what a UAT (User Acceptance Test) is, why it's important, and how this course will help you master running one.
How to use Udemy2:01
Learn to use the Udemy platform
How well do you know UATs?
UAT versus other types of testing5:29
There are many types of testing performed during projects. Here we'll cover how they differ from a UAT.
UAT vs other types of testing quiz
Why UATs are important6:02
A UAT is a significant investment in time and energy. Here we'll see why they're important, and well worth the cost.
UAT Timeline5:49
See a high-level timeline of a UAT, including when specific events tend to occur, and where in the project lifecycle a UAT happens.

Introduction to UAT Planning1:32
Get an overview of how to set yourself up for success during the UAT.
Getting Buy In5:49
This lecture covers how to get stakeholder buy in for your UAT. You'll learn why this is important, and different ways to convince stakeholders about a UATs importance and the need to run one.
The Project and Business Teams6:44
During the UAT you'll interact with two main groups, the Project and Business teams. This lecture digs into the differences between them, and why it's important to understand those differences.
Getting Your Team5:23
You can't run a UAT on your own! This lecture will show you different ways to get resources to help build scripts and run your tests.
System Champions5:37
Over time your testing team becomes a valuable resource- System Champions. Here you'll learn more about this group and how they can help improve your overall project.
Scenarios and Scripts4:36
Scenarios are business-processes and use-cases you'll want to test in the system, while scripts are step-by-step guides on how to perform those scenarios. Here you'll learn the importance of ensuring you get the proper scenarios and scripts created.
Scenarios Deep Dive5:32
Scenarios are basically business processes that need to be evaluated. They can be smaller, simple ones, or larger, complex, ones. This lecture teaches you what they are, how to identify them, and how they differ from scripts.
Scripts Deep Dive5:28
Scripts are the step-by-step instructions needed to complete a scenario. Simple scenarios may only have one script, but more complex ones may have multiple scripts chained together. This lecture walks you through what a script is, how to create them, and who owns them.
Scenarios and Scripts Quiz
Scheduling5:15
Part of running a UAT is ensuring everyone knows when and where they need to be. Here you'll learn how investing time in scheduling will make your life a lot easier.
Script Template3:10
See how a spreadsheet can be used to easily track your UAT progress. Resources include:
1. Google Sheets version
2. Excel version (downloadable)
3. .ods version (downloadable)
Planning Wrap Up1:57
This lecture recaps everything you've learned about UAT planning.

Running a UAT Introduction2:07
Most of your work will be in executing the UAT itself - get started here.
Issues and Tracking Issues5:27
Every UAT runs into issues. These could be bugs, questions, enhancements and more.
Retesting4:08
Once an issue is reported the Project team should get to work resolving it. Once they're done fixing it, the script goes back to the business team to test. Learn about the importance of retesting in this lecture.
The Kickoff Call5:21
The Kickoff Call is the first time your team will get together, and your best chance to make a good impression and set expectations. This lecture covers how to plan and run a good one.
Kickoff call quiz
Communication5:47
Effective communication is critical to a successful UAT. This lecture covers some different kids of communication you'll need to be successful.
Write a UAT Update
Note Taking and Documenting Decisions5:29
During a UAT a LOT of decisions will be made, and writing them down is a great way to keep track of them all. It can also help you avoid some uncomfortable discussions! Learn how in this lecture.
Supporting the Team5:01
Your team will likely be full of smart and motivated people, but they'll still need your support to be truly effective. Here you'll gain an understanding of different ways to help them succeed.
Other Jobs for Testers4:55
Your testers are more valuable than just running scripts - they can teach, help get buy in and more. Learn how here.
Metrics5:02
Hard numbers are a great way to monitor the health of your UAT and tell compelling stories. This lecture covers some basic metrics you'll need to succeed.
Running the UAT Wrap Up2:31
A quick review of Running the UAT.

Introduction to Finishing a UAT1:20
Now that you've done all the work of running scripts, get introduced to how to close your UAT successfully.
Final Review of Issues5:59
It's likely you'll have some open issues when you get to the end of your UAT... and that's OK! You will, however, want to run them by your stakeholders so they know what's still open.
Official Signoff - The Go / No-Go Call6:36
This meeting is your Stakeholders chance to review all your progress and give their official GO or NO GO to the project.
Finishing a UAT Wrap Up1:16
A quick review of how to finish a UAT.

Introduction to Common Challenges1:07
A short overview of some common challenges you'll likely face.
Script Ownership6:09
Many UATs suffer because the project team (not the business) create and own testing scripts. Learn how to avoid this mistake and ensure your business partners provide their insight.
Loss of Engagement7:33
UATs are only successful if they have engaged testing and project teams. Many times those teams aren't fully engaged, leading to a loss of focus and poor testing. Learn how to avoid this challenge and keep your team engaged and involved.
Challenges Wrap Up1:05
A quick review of common challenges.

Requirements

Email address for free Google Sheets template
Experience working on a project will be helpful, but is not required

Description

Projects are a lot of work, and ensuring they successfully deploy can be challenging. It can be tempting to let the development team do some testing and then launch... but this can be a very risky gamble as critical test scenarios may be missed, the business may not be bought in and bugs may escape. At one extreme this can result in project failure.

This is where a User Acceptance Test, or UAT, comes in. Running a UAT will help ensure a successful deployment by throughly testing your product before it launches. This testing includes involvement by the teams who will use the new tool (the business), a robust examination of which scenarios need to be tested, and extensive testing to ensure the system meets their needs.

UAT's give the project team a chance to correct any issues, and also exposes the customer or business team to how the project works, increasing engagement and buy-in.

Why do UATs matter?

UAT's are a critical phase in every project's lifecycle, but they can be challenging to organize and run. This course covers every aspect of running a successful UAT, including:

1. Strategic Planning: Generating buy-in and excitement for a UAT is critical to it's success, as is putting together a solid team to help run it.

2. Flawless Execution: UATs go beyond running tests. They also include effective communication, identifying champions, and tracking critical metrics and issues.

3. Seamless Closure: Completing a UAT isn't just about finishing test scripts. Discover how to address every issue, obtain team consensus, and achieve the official sign-off for testing completion.

UAT's are more than test scripts! They're about people. This course also covers the human element of UAT's, including:

Securing Stakeholder Buy-In: Master the art of convincing stakeholders about the value of UAT and how to effectively communicate its importance.
Managing Diverse Perspectives: Explore strategies for handling the diverse group of individuals involved in UAT. Learn to navigate varying opinions, availability challenges, and foster collaboration for the betterment of your project.
Empowering Your UAT Team: Discover how to provide the essential support your UAT team needs for success. From documentation to addressing challenges, you'll become the catalyst for a high-performing UAT team.
Building Effective Working Relationships: UAT is about teamwork and collaboration. Learn how to cultivate strong working relationships with your team members, testers, and stakeholders for smoother UAT processes.
Cultivating Champions: UATs help identify system champions - users who will be your system's cheer leaders and help others learn about, and buy into, the new system.

Why should you take this course?

Reduce the risk of a deployment failing - Failed deployments are incredibly costly, both in terms of dollars, but also in terms of tarnished reputation. Running a UAT helps reduce this risk by having the business thoroughly test the system, and sign off on that testing, before deployment.
Build stronger teams - A UAT is comprised of the project team (developers, analysts, etc) and the business team (individuals from the unit accepting the system). Bringing them together helps improve everyone's skills and helps uncover new test scenarios and features that could be missed.
Improve your skills - Understanding how to run a UAT will improve your skillset, making you a more valuable member of your organization, and will improve your confidence when deploying systems.

Who Should Enroll:

Project Managers: Boost your project management skills, and project success, by learning how to plan, run and close successful UATs.
Project Team Members: Understand the importance of UATs and how you fit into this critical part of a project.
Testers: Maximize your testing impact by gaining a clear understanding of UAT expectations and responsibilities.
Managers of UAT Participants: Enhance your support by comprehending your team's UAT roles and challenges.

Who this course is for:

Project Managers: Arm yourself with essential UAT expertise to drive project excellence
Project Team Members: Whether you support or lead UAT efforts, understanding the process is pivotal to your success.
Managers of UAT Participants: Enhance your support by comprehending your team's UAT roles and challenges.
Testers: Maximize your testing impact by gaining a clear understanding of UAT expectations and responsibilities.

Master User Acceptance Testing UAT - Project Manager's Guide

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction5 lectures • 24min

Planning for a UAT11 lectures • 51min

Running a UAT10 lectures • 46min

Finishing a UAT4 lectures • 15min

Common UAT Challenges4 lectures • 16min

Wrapup1 lecture • 7min

Bonus1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: