My presentation from TestBash 2.0. A Testers Hierarchy Of Needs, a model for categorising your career in software testing.

1. A Testers Hierarchy of Needs
From ‘just a job’ to self-actualization…

2. Who am I? Stephen Janaway
• 12 years experience in software testing.
• Software testing, team leading, test management.
• Fascinated by mobile devices and the web.
• Have worked for companies such as Ericsson, Motorola and
Nokia.
• Test Manager @ the Net-a-Porter Group.
www.stephenjanaway.co.uk @stephenjanaway

3. Abraham Harold Maslow

4. The needs of humans, in their
most basic form

5. Humanistic theories of
self-actualization

6. Qualities of
self-actualizing people

8. Meta-motivation

9. Consider a Typical Career Path
Junior
Tester
Tester
Senior
Tester
Test
Architect

10. And Another
Junior
Tester
Tester
Senior
Tester
Test Lead
Test
Team
Leader
Test
Manager

11. But what if we forgot about
roles and job descriptions?

12. Building Blocks

13. Testing is just a job. ‘Anyone can do the testing’
No respect or support from management
Testing is mandated and a test team exists.
But testers are mostly seen as an annoyance.
Testers are seen as a key part of the
team. Testing is taken seriously and
testers are consulted
The business consults,
relies upon, and
values testers
Test Mastery
Physiological
Safety
Belonging
Esteem
Self-actualisation
Acceptance
Learning
Respect
Interaction
Recognition

14. Testing is just a job. ‘Anyone can do the testing’
No respect or support from management
Testing is mandated and a test team exists.
But testers are mostly seen as an annoyance.
Testers are seen as a key part of the
team. Testing is taken seriously and
testers are consulted
The business consults,
relies upon, and
values testers
Test Mastery
Physiological
Safety
Belonging
Esteem
Self-actualisation
Acceptance
Learning
Respect
Interaction
Recognition

15. Testing is just a job. ‘Anyone can do the testing’
No respect or support from management
Testing is mandated and a test team exists.
But testers are mostly seen as an annoyance.
Testers are seen as a key part of the
team. Testing is taken seriously and
testers are consulted
The business consults,
relies upon, and
values testers
Test Mastery
Physiological
Safety
Belonging
Esteem
Self-actualisation
Acceptance
Learning
Respect
Interaction
Recognition

16. Testing is just a job. ‘Anyone can do the testing’
No respect or support from management
Testing is mandated and a test team exists.
But testers are mostly seen as an annoyance.
Testers are seen as a key part of the
team. Testing is taken seriously and
testers are consulted
The business consults,
relies upon, and
values testers
Test Mastery
Physiological
Safety
Belonging
Esteem
Self-actualisation
Acceptance
Learning
Respect
Interaction
Recognition

17. Testing is just a job. ‘Anyone can do the testing’
No respect or support from management
Testing is mandated and a test team exists.
But testers are mostly seen as an annoyance.
Testers are seen as a key part of the
team. Testing is taken seriously and
testers are consulted
The business consults,
relies upon, and
values testers
Test Mastery
Physiological
Safety
Belonging
Esteem
Self-actualisation
Acceptance
Learning
Respect
Interaction
Recognition
"What a man can be, he must be.“

18. What affects your movement
between levels?

19. Where are you?

20. Stephen Janaway
Test Manager
Net-a-Porter Group
• www.stephenjanaway.co.uk
• @stephenjanaway
Questions?
http://www.net-a-porter.com/careers