Tester's are doing it for themselves - Julie Gardiner - SoftTest Ireland
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This document discusses the importance of personal investment for testers. It outlines different types of personal investment including time, cost, and emotional well-being. The tester's mindset and key attributes are described. Testers are encouraged to invest in their own development by reading materials, attending trainings, and pursuing qualifications. Companies can also invest in testers through career paths, internal communities, and training opportunities. The document stresses that personal investment will make testers feel better in their roles and more adaptable to challenges.
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Tester's are doing it for themselves - Julie Gardiner - SoftTest Ireland
- 1. Testers are doing it for themselves Julie Gardiner QST Consultants Ltd 46 Brooklands Drive, Gedling Nottingham, NG4 3GU email: info@qstc.co.uk http://www.qstc.co.uk © Copyright QST Consultants Ltd 1 tel: +44(0)7974 141436 Agenda Different types of personal investment Tester’s mindset & attributes of a tester Why you should invest in your own development Actions for personal investment How your companies can invest in you Making it happen How will you feel? 2 1
- 2. Investment can take many forms... Time, cost, emotional wellbeing 3 What about Personal Investment? What makes a good tester? 4 2
- 3. The Tester’s Mindset Impartial & challenging Analytical Methodical & thorough Communicator & sounding board Enthusiastic, motivated & passionate Open minded And others... 5 Attributes needed to be a tester A risk manager Information provider Skilled and experienced Disciplined and focused Conscientious Able and willing to communicate effectively Diplomatic Flexible and adaptable 6 3
- 4. Why you should invest in your own development You know best Demonstrates commitment to everyone Your employment might change, your goals should be transferable Helps management – feed personal goals into team objectives 7 Investment - Time Read the books - All topics are covered Web Working Parties Discussion forums User Groups Experience White papers Find a Mentor 8 4
- 5. Investment - Cost Training – Testing – Technical – Soft skills Professional qualifications – ISEB/ISTQB Conferences Videos/DVD CBT/ on-line learning Books and magazines 9 Investment - Emotional Personal pride Understand the benefits to be gained Maslow Hierarchy of needs 10 Http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM 5
- 6. How your company can invest in you (1) Career path for testers – Hierarchical – Flat – Functional Examples… All Career path slides taken from STARWest 2005 Tutorial how to build, support & add value to your test team by Lloyd Roden Grove Consultants and Julie Gardiner 11 QST Consultants Ltd Career model (1) : Flat Advantages Disadvantages – simple - no opportunity to specialise in – one true (happy) team? any area – easier to rotate staff onto - pay rises may be limited many projects business - no technical aspects identified areas 12 6
- 7. Career model (2) : Hierarchical Test Manager Advantages – simple – some structure Team Leader(s) – key roles identified Disadvantages Senior Test Analyst(s) – structure is ‘management’ management’ focused – no reference to functional Test Analyst(s) skills – no technical aspects identified Trainee Test Analyst(s) 13 Career model (3) : Functional Functional Career Model Management Technical Application Test Managers Senior Technician Non- Functional Functional Team Leaders DBA/Env Technician Test Designers Test Designers Test Consultants Test Automator Test Executors Test Executors 14 7
- 8. Career model (3) : Functional Advantages Disadvantages management is not the may need to introduce only route! ‘trainee’ element to trainee’ awareness of the different decide which path to functions and skills within take the team suitability of the can swap from one column columns for the staff to another indicates that testing is more than testing 15 Example of functional career path Test Manager Test Consultant Test Consultant Test Team Tools Process Test Team Lead Lead Senior Tester Tester Junior Tester 16 8
- 9. How your Company can invest in you (2) Create Internal SIGIST Time set aside in project plans for – R&D – Coaching & mentoring Lunchtime sessions Library Conferences Training & Knowledge sharing – intranet 17 Where do you go from here? 18 9
- 10. Making it Happen Personal – Where am I now? – Where do I want to be? – How do get there? – What investment can I make? – What will I get out of it? Small steps – quick wins & short term goals – long term goals 19 How will you feel? Feel better in yourself – Growing/more confident within current role – Gaining skills/knowledge towards new role Proactive to new techniques/processes – Adaptable and flexible to the challenges you face in a company Remember Maslow! 20 10
- 11. Summary You can & should take ownership for your investment It is important and motivational Information is available and don’t forget to share with others Decide what investment you can make Keep focused and don’t lose heart You can make it happen! 21 Thank you! Julie Gardiner QST Consultants Ltd Email: julie@qstc.co.uk Mobile: +44 7974 141436 22 11