Transcript Presentation to Software Quality New Zealand

Presentation to
Software Quality New Zealand
Tester Certification
Background
• I managed a Software Quality Assurance team for a large
UK development team in the telecom industry
• In 2001 my QA team was expanded from 5 to 9 testers
with people being moved from the support team to mine
• These new people, although having subject matter
expertise and good problem solving experience, had never
received any training in testing
Choosing Certification
• I needed to find a way to integrate these people into my
team as well as up skill them.
• I looked at what training was available in UK at the time
and only ISEB had a recognised certification
• In the next few slides I will talk about the benefits my team
and I gained by going through a formal testing certification
program.
What is Certification?
• Recognized by international bodies
• Provides a learning path for further certifications
• Demonstrates a level of knowledge necessary for a person
to be a professional software tester
Employer Benefits
• Clarifies definitions of activities, capabilities and
responsibilities
• Improves job and career path descriptions as well as hiring
and promotion criteria
• Clarifies required knowledge and training needs
• Attracts skilled testers
• Promotes more cost-effective practice
• Helps build trust in potential clients
Tester Benefits
• Improves the image of testers
• Increases professionalism, credibility, and respect
• Improves communication and coordination with others
• Facilitates training, professional growth, achievement and
recognition
• Provides evidence of interest, knowledge, and
accomplishments
Test Manager Benefits
• Demonstrates team capability
• Builds trust in team
• Team has same understanding of process
• Allows for delegation
End User Benefits
• More reliable products from more effective testing
• Helps find vendors who have a commitment to quality
• Ensures common terms are standardised so users and
vendors have a reference point.
Perceived Risks
• Lose of Staff
• Ensure that your staff are content
• Develop personal development plans
Which is worse? Trained staff that leave or untrained staff that stay!
• Slows innovation (People don’t try to solve the problem in a better way)
• Encourage self learning
• Ensure staff have access to resources like StickyMinds
In Conclusion –
Culture?
• Certification must be part of a strategy to develop an
effective team; it should not be the strategy
• Certification must add value to all stakeholders;
Employers, Testers, and End Users
• A framework must be in place to analyse suggested
improvements and a plan created to implement
improvements.