**8.6 Pilot testing**

In this stage, the written program undergoes a debugging stage in which the programmer identifies errors in the program. The identified errors can be syntactic or logic. In addition, the programmer explores other areas that are likely to make

the program not run in a proper manner or not run completely [21]. The pilot testing stage is usually lengthy and tedious and often constitutes more than 50% of the program development process. However, when there is greater attention to program design and coding, it is possible to reduce the amount of time spent in the debugging stage. Syntax errors result in difficulty of executing a program and constitute simple errors such as misspelling or failure to comply with the syntax rules to be followed in a particular programming language [12].

### **8.7 Pre-implementation testing**

In this testing, test data is added to the program to determine its usability in providing the required outputs. Agile testing can also be performed by following the principle of testing from the customer's perspectives [23]. This testing should be performed by the quality assurance (QA) team. User acceptance testing (UAT) is performed on the program to determine whether it is usable in the intended system when released. This is due to the fact that changes in software characteristics undergo changes as it is developed. The resulting changes can be misunderstood in a fashion that is not according to the objectives of users. When UAT is completed, if all requirements are met, the program is moved to production and made available to the users.

## **8.8 Final implementation**

The final implementation stage is where a program is used to conduct an analysis of a particular data to provide an output that can be used to predict future activities of an organization [14]. In the implementation stage, the data mined from an organization's database are input into the written computer program, processed (machine learning) and the resulting output is recorded and analyzed to enable prediction of a future characteristic of a program.
