What does system testing primarily evaluate?

System testing primarily evaluates the integrated system's compliance with specified requirements. This phase of testing is critical as it focuses on assessing whether the entire system functions as intended when all components work together. System testing ensures that both the functional and non-functional requirements outlined in the specifications are met, making it essential for validating the system before it goes live.

The emphasis during system testing is on the overall behavior of the system under various conditions, including different use cases and expected loads. It assesses how well the system meets the needs of the stakeholders and checks for consistency and reliability throughout the integrated system. By validating compliance with requirements, system testing helps to identify defects that could affect user experience or system performance and addresses them prior to deployment.

Other aspects, such as the performance of individual components or the team’s adherence to timelines, while important in their own right, do not capture the overarching purpose of system testing, which is to validate the entire system against its requirements. The financial viability of the project is also unrelated to the direct functionalities and requirements of the system being tested.