Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow IT Certification Skills Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow switchboard: mobile:

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 1 Introduction Acutest is a specialist test consultancy concentrating solely on testing IT, processes and technology-centred change Our goal is to substantially increase the value our customers derive from testing by reducing the  elapsed time spent testing;  cost of testing;  risks of going live.

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 2 IT Certification Skills & developing testing Recognising & developing testing professionals to meet the needs of today’s IT world of today’s IT world

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 3 Agenda Testers and how they become testers? What qualities set great testers apart? How can these skills be gained? What qualifications does the market place offer?

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 4 Who becomes a tester? Traditionally most testers have ‘fallen into their current role’, may even have been pushed! Unplanned Characterised by:  No clearly defined career path  Traditionally testing qualification not part of IT syllabus

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 5 Software testing is still immature? But:  There are examples of very good practice out there However:  Consistency in skills and knowledge is unusual

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 6 What makes a great tester? It’s a balancing act: planning designing tests technical skills risk analysis team building motivation team dynamics Communication Soft skills

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 7 What makes a great tester? Core testing skills Business skills IT knowledge Reporting writing Technical skills – tools and programming Above all! People skills

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 8 In-addition – Qualities that help! Curiosity A need to break things Attention to detail Thoroughness

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 9 Skills in testing - 2 routes Experience system knowledge business knowledge technical knowledge Training test planning, design and execution test tools test management requirement analysis So - can anyone test?

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 10 Developer skills knowledge  use of development skills gives insight into how possible errors are made and possible faults that can be introduced experience  code, environment architecture (OS, networks etc), tools, system architecture tests  code, structure, detail, interfaces

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 11 Tester skills knowledge  useful testing skills such as requirements analysis, test case design, execution and the use of test tools. experience  system, environment, tools and business tests  interfaces, functional and non-functional system, inter-system, negative and positive

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 12 User skills knowledge  users will be familiar with the application from the user's perspective, this provides insight into how the system will be used and where failures would have the greatest impact experience  system and business tests  business scenarios, functional and usability

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 13 Good people skills Interpersonal skills are vital for the effective tester trustworthy objectivity openness appreciation blameless influencing and negotiation giving and receiving criticism

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 14 Approaches Tester Development Tester Development Tester Development Tester Development Tester skills How do we tackle this?

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 15 Approaches Tester Development Tester Development Tester Development Public courses Pros: Minimum planning Off the shelf Easy to arrange Fix an perceived problem Cons: Not specific Hard to measure Quick fix Lack of consistency Needs not addressed

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 16 Approaches Tester Development Tester Development Professional/ vocational Pros: Credibility/universality Career advancement Career path/focus Recognition of skills Cons: Not practical Exam based Commitment Cost Not tackling key skill areas

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 17 Approaches Tester Development Coaching Development Pros: Tailored Organisation/individual specific Measurable Needs based Cons: Requires investment Long term commitment Beyond single project aims

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 18 Approaches Public courses Coaching Development Professional/ vocational Most effective Effective in certain areas

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 19 Testing certification Numerous tools based and supplier certified courses - mainly in the automation space Test & test management certification - few independent qualifications ISEB Software testing certificate - only example of national qualification in UK

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 20 ISEB - Software Testing Foundation & Certificate To gain recognition for testing as an essential & professional software engineering specialisation by industry To enable professionally qualified testers to be recognised by employers, customers & peers and raise the profile of testers To promote consistent & good testing practice within all software engineering disciplines

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 21 Background SIGIST circa 1990 – looking for convergence on test methods and terminology ISEB (SIGIST part of the BCS) recognise  Software testing as a Foundation level qualification  More recently Practitioner qualification added ISTQB formed 2004 – International body for testing

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 22 Progress so far.. Almost candidates have passed Foundation course

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 23 Future ISTQB  International qualification  Foundation certificate available already  Forum for testing

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 24 Summary Testing has now come of age, Why? :  because of the recognition of the risk and impact of software failing  because business is becoming aware that you need high quality testing skills to manage this risk Testing skills certification:  ISEB/ISTQB have made a brave start  Multiple skills are required  Need a multi-pronged attack  Long term - coaching and support work!

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow