Presentation to Software Quality New Zealand

1. Presentation toSoftware Quality New Zealand Tester Certification

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. Test Manager Benefits • Demonstrates team capability • Builds trust in team • Team has same understanding of process • Allows for delegation

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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.