How should a team define software acceptance criteria?

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• 7th August 2026 at 10:43 am #3328

  NNick Oscar

  Terms like configured, complete, and ready can mean different things to the buyer and supplier. How can acceptance criteria make the final decision testable?

  7th August 2026 at 10:43 am #3329

  NNick Oscar

  Accepted editorial answer

  Write criteria as observable outcomes. Identify the requirement, test conditions, starting data, expected result, allowed tolerance, required evidence, responsible reviewer, and the action taken after a failure.

  Cover more than individual features. Include integrations, permissions, performance, accessibility, security, migrated data, reporting, recovery, and production operations. Distinguish a defect that blocks acceptance from a lower-priority issue that can follow a documented remediation plan.

  GAO’s systems-acquisition guidance describes progressive testing, acceptance testing, analysis of outputs, and retesting after corrections. It also advises against conversion until tests show that the system operates as required.

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