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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Hosts…. https://www.roq.co.uk/

Thank you for supporting the Forum

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

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

I gave the very first TMF talk in 2004

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)20 7636 6060 email: paulg@evolutif.co.uk http://www.evolutif.co.uk/

Annual training budget spend? Testing theory (ISEB etc.) see www.bcs.org.uk/iseb 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%

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…

My Cork project “Gerrard Consulting Limited (GCL) have been invited by it@cork 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.”

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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)?

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