1. Intelligent Assurance and Testing
12-Apr-19
Hosted by:
Introducing the
Inaugural Scottish ALF in Glasgow 21 February 2019

2. Programme 13:30 Teas/coffees 14:00
Intro and short session “Critical Skills for Testers – Paul Gerrard
14.45
Session 1 – Anna McMillan 2i Why Testers Aren’t Going the Way of the Dinosaur
Session 2 – Bryn Coulthard A View from the Outside
15:45
16:15
Session 3 – Lynn Purcell The changing role of a tester
Session 4 – Jonny Fletcher Pragmatic Automation
17:15
Drinks

3. Started life as the Test Management Forum in January 2004 – fifteen years ago!
One stream, two sessions
(London) three streams, six sessions
Focused on:
Test Management Issues
Senior Practitioners
Vision for the industry
Delivery success
Ancient History

4. The testing market has changed to match the Agile trend
Testing shifted-left, even no-testers!
Test managers re-assigned
Is the TMF relevant any more?
Rebrand to Assurance Leadership Forum in 2017
Recent London sessions have focused on professional and personal development, teams and individuals.
More Recent history

5. Organisation London events quarterly (£20+VAT)
Manchester bi-annual, hosted by ROQ
Annual London Full Day Summit
Hosted by Gerrard Consulting & Mike Jarred with assistance from sponsors
Contributions and content from practitioners
(We are always looking for volunteer facilitators)
Non-bureaucratic, driven by participants.
Organisation

6. Vision For senior software delivery practitioners and managers
Forward looking: trends, futures, the ‘big issues’
Geared towards networking
Learning, through discussion
Gravitas, influence, authority in test and assurance and now, more broadly, the software development industry.
Vision

7. Sponsorship is always welcome
Thanks to all,
Sponsorship is always welcome

8. Today’s Hosts….

11. Thank you for supporting the Forum

12. Critical Skills for Testers
Intelligent Assurance and Testing
12-Apr-19
Critical Skills for Testers
Paul Gerrard, Gerrard Consulting

13. Summary Skills were important in 2004 Skills are as important as ever
Changes in the role of testers, testing mean we need adaptable, tech-savvy, professionals with interpersonal and team skills
Walk through my latest assignment
Briefly discuss.
Summary

14. I gave the very first TMF talk in 2004

15. The Selection, Assessment and
Development of Software Testing Professionals
Paul Gerrard
Technical Director
Systeme Evolutif
Systeme Evolutif Limited
9 Cavendish Place
London W1G 0QD, UK
Tel: +44 (0)

16. Annual training budget spend?
Testing theory (ISEB etc.)
see
Testing skills
verbal reasoning, numerical/abstract reasoning, fault diagnosis, accuracy
Testing Practice (Testing Case Studies)
hands-on practical test activity
Interpersonal skills
communication, assertiveness, conflict handling, survival, team skills
20%
20%
40%
20%

17. Fifteen(!) years ago… I recall the 2004 group agreed:
We should move away from technical certification to more practical training
(Inter)personal skills were increasingly important
These conclusions are more pressing than ever
(And for all team roles, not just for testers).
Fifteen(!) years ago…

18. My Cork project
“Gerrard Consulting Limited (GCL) have been invited by Skillnet to define and develop a training programme for software testers in the South-West region of Ireland in response to a need that was highlighted by steering group member companies and beyond.
The initial work will involve gathering requirements from local companies, proposing a high-level structure and syllabus for a range of training, and the development and piloting of an initial classroom course to prove the concept.”

19. Developing Testing Skills to Address Product Quality Challenges
Date: Thursday 29th November 2018
Time: 9:30am – 2:00pm

20. The old days… Dedicated Test team / Test manager
This workshop is in response to changes in how we delivery software; and new challenges relating to product quality associated with fundamental changes to traditional software testing techniques, QA engineering roles, career paths and skill sets.
The old days…
Dedicated Test team / Test manager
Test cases / test tracking tools (Manual)
Quality determined by simple metrics
Emphasis on documentation
Waterfall was predictable

21. Agile transformation Why Agile? Improved product quality
React quickly to customer requirements / Speed to market
Greater customer satisfaction
Increased project control
Focus on business value
All makes sense!! What could go wrong?

22. Existential crisis for testers
Testing is obsolete
Replaced by automation
How do you add value to the team?
Titles changing – evolution of sdet role
We’re all engineers; everyone must write code
Once highly respected skillset / mindset no longer valued
Technology changing at unprecedented rate

23. Attitudes changing… Renewed recognition of the importance of testing
Valued Skillset / Mindset
Creative / exploration
Reflected in bug stats
Challenges remain….
Limited career path (if any)
Confusion about testing roles
Lack of third level focus
Lack of focused training

24. What can we do? Leaving the bigger problems aside for now…
Identify OUR skills gaps
Identify OUR training needs
Develop a Future Skills Programme

25. Progress Documented perceived challenges
Identified skills to address challenges
Currently assigning skills to:
Beginner/Foundation
Practitioner
Master
PG tasks:
Create Pilot Beginner class online/classroom
Create model ITT for training suppliers.

26. Skills Inventory Adapting Testing Agile Testing Approaches
Assertiveness
Challenging Requirements
Collaboration
Communication
Critical Thinking
Developer Testing
Exploratory Testing
Exploring Sources of Knowledge
Facilitation
Hiring Testers
Instrumentation
Modelling
Monitoring
Non-Functional Testing
Process Improvement
Planning
Reconciliation
Regression Testing
Requirements Test Analysis

27. Skills Inventory 2 Test Design - Logic
Risk Management
SDET Role
Technical Testing
Technology Skills
Systems Thinking
Test Assurance
Test Automation Frameworks
Test Automation
Coaching
Test Design – Model-Based
Test Design – Domain
Test Design – State-Based
Test Design - Logic
Test Design - Purposeful Activity
Test Motivation
Test Strategy
Testability
Testing and Stakeholders
Testing Fundamentals
Testing in Teams
Working Remotely

28. A new vision for ALF?
“We are an organisation that facilitates the professional, and personal development for Senior IT Professionals”

29. ALF London 24 April discussion
Do you need a Forum for prof/pers development needs?
Do you need a provider of those services?
Does the mission and a commercial venture sound viable to you?
Would you still come to forums to hear about prof/pers development issues?
Does ALF stick to assurance and testing or go broader?
Do we rename the ALF (again)?

30. Programme 13:30 Teas/coffees 14:00
Intro and short session “Critical Skills for Testers – Paul Gerrard
14.45
Session 1 – Anna McMillan 2i Why Testers Aren’t Going the Way of the Dinosaur
Session 2 – Bryn Coulthard A View from the Outside
15:45
16:15
Session 3 – Lynn Purcell The changing role of a tester
Session 4 – Jonny Fletcher Pragmatic Automation
17:15
Drinks