Embodiments of the invention include an arbiter facility included in a
test script. The arbiter facility includes properties defining a method
for evaluating the status of a step or process, a method for evaluating
verification point results and the steps to execute during execution of
the test script. The arbiter facility operates to control the flow of the
processes performed that form the test script. The control of the
processes that are performed are based on explicit rules or conditions.
The rules implemented by the arbiter facility can result in different
processes within the test script being performed based on data processed
by the arbiter facility. Moreover, aspects of the invention embodied by
the arbiter facility implement rules which explicitly express, within the
test case, the value (e.g., weight, importance, etc.) of individual
operations. In the exemplary embodiment, the value of one or more
individual operations are explicitly expressed by the rules (e.g.,
computations, calculations, determinations, etc.) that are imposed on the
results returned to the arbiter facility by the various verification
points within the test script. Accordingly and advantageously, analysis
on the value of a verification point may be performed prior to
implementing or executing a test script. This analysis may then be
reflected in the rule implemented in the arbiter facility.