do testers really thrive at night? Alan Mather QBIT Test Expo 19.09.2007 www.diverdiver.com/egovblog.html To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan and … not quite enough time

ables f elivery

1. our architecture is robust

2. we won’t be working Christmas again trust me

3. we will be innovative no, trust me!

4. we have a highly skilled “can do” team Tester Programme Director Project Manager Account Manager’s Lackey Ops Manager Account Manager Health and Safety HR Service Manager Test Manager Commercial Director

5. the customer has clear requirements Special To Hint Urgent circumstance or door is take placed out to break down for hour, please draw apart this to revolve the red solution to lock the pole

the inevitable reality the design team’s plan the test team’s plan Programme Starts Design Starts Build Starts Testing Starts Deliver On-Time Deliver Early Testing Starts Test Planning Expectation Gap test plan? we need one of those?

Heroes emerge … crunch time work harder and longer … always de-scope … usually add people … fred p. brooks says no spend more … of course … slip the live date … unthinkable Expectation Gap

work harder and longer … always

de-scope … usually

add people … fred p. brooks says no

spend more … of course

… slip the live date … unthinkable

or worse … resort to … drive by testing got to deliver

so what are we going to do about it? help! I’m just the customer

build for the long term Today’s sexiest technology is tomorrow’s legacy (if it even works)

no more accidental testers appoint a C.T.O

use established teams

save (all) environments … go forth and replicate get the basics right …

[really] partner if you’re not [really] strong bigness does not lead to greatness; Small [companies] can still be beautiful … they ramp up faster come with lower overheads innovate to get ahead but they might test you out Let’s not be bull-headed about this

bigness does not lead to greatness;

Small [companies] can still be beautiful … they

ramp up faster

come with lower overheads

innovate to get ahead

but they might test you out

know your risks do you know what you’re getting into? leaping is part of testing

know what you (all) want = + success depends on it

know your maths/metrics what is the true cost of future change? how much coverage is good coverage? what ratios are you using? have you architected, from day one, for automation? what will you do when you find out you were wrong? all testing is a process of subtraction

what is the true cost of future change?

how much coverage is good coverage?

what ratios are you using?

have you architected, from day one, for automation?

what will you do when you find out you were wrong?

time for the IT industry to grow up build for the long term no more accidental testers save (all) environments hire established teams [really] partner if you’re not [really] strong know your risks know what you (all) want know your metrics do testers really thrive at night?

build for the long term

no more accidental testers

save (all) environments

hire established teams

[really] partner if you’re not [really] strong

know your risks

know what you (all) want

know your metrics