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©© Copyright QST Consultants LtdCopyright QST Consultants Ltd 11

Testers are doing it for Testers are doing it for themselvesthemselves

QST Consultants LtdQST Consultants Ltd46 Brooklands Drive, Gedling46 Brooklands Drive, Gedling

Nottingham, NG4 3GUNottingham, NG4 3GUemail: info@qstc.co.ukemail: info@qstc.co.ukhttp://www.qstc.co.ukhttp://www.qstc.co.uk

tel: +44(0)7974 141436tel: +44(0)7974 141436

Julie GardinerJulie Gardiner

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AgendaAgenda

Different types of personal investment Tester’s mindset & attributes of a testerWhy you should invest in your own developmentActions for personal investmentHow your companies can invest in youMaking it happenHow will you feel?

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Investment can take Investment can take many forms...many forms...

Time, cost, emotional wellbeingTime, cost, emotional wellbeing

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What about Personal What about Personal Investment?Investment?

What makes a good tester?What makes a good tester?

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The TesterThe Tester’’s Mindsets Mindset

Impartial & challengingImpartial & challengingAnalytical Analytical Methodical & thoroughMethodical & thoroughCommunicator & sounding boardCommunicator & sounding boardEnthusiastic, motivated & passionate Enthusiastic, motivated & passionate Open mindedOpen mindedAnd others...And others...

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Attributes needed to be a Attributes needed to be a testertesterA risk managerInformation provider Skilled and experiencedDisciplined and focusedConscientiousAble and willing to communicate effectivelyDiplomaticFlexible and adaptable

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Why you should invest inWhy you should invest inyour own developmentyour own development

You know bestYou know bestDemonstrates commitment to Demonstrates commitment to everyoneeveryoneYour employment might change, your Your employment might change, your goals should be transferablegoals should be transferableHelps managementHelps management–– feed personal goals into team objectivesfeed personal goals into team objectives

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Investment Investment -- TimeTime

Read the books Read the books -- All topics are coveredAll topics are coveredWebWebWorking PartiesWorking PartiesDiscussion forumsDiscussion forumsUser GroupsUser GroupsExperienceExperienceWhite papersWhite papersFind a MentorFind a Mentor

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Investment Investment -- CostCost

Training–– TestingTesting–– TechnicalTechnical–– Soft skillsSoft skills

Professional qualifications Professional qualifications –– ISEB/ISTQBISEB/ISTQBConferencesConferencesVideos/DVDVideos/DVDCBT/ onCBT/ on--line learningline learning

Books and magazinesBooks and magazines

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Investment Investment -- EmotionalEmotional

Personal prideUnderstand the benefits to be gainedMaslow Hierarchy of needs

Http://web.utk.edu/~gwynne/maslow.HTM

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How your company can How your company can invest in you (1)invest in you (1)

Career path for testersCareer 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 QST Consultants Ltd

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Career model (1) : FlatCareer model (1) : Flat

Advantages–– simplesimple–– one true (happy) team?one true (happy) team?–– easier to rotate staff onto easier to rotate staff onto

many projects business many projects business areasareas

Disadvantages-- no opportunity to specialise in no opportunity to specialise in any areaany area-- pay rises may be limited pay rises may be limited -- no technical aspects identified no technical aspects identified

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Career model (2) : Career model (2) : HierarchicalHierarchical

Trainee Test Analyst(s)

Test Analyst(s)

Senior Test Analyst(s)

Team Leader(s)

Test Manager AdvantagesAdvantages–– simplesimple–– some structuresome structure–– key roles identifiedkey roles identified

DisadvantagesDisadvantages–– structure is structure is ‘‘managementmanagement’’

focusedfocused–– no reference to functional no reference to functional

skillsskills–– no technical aspects no technical aspects

identified identified

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Career model (3) : Career model (3) : FunctionalFunctional

Test Consultants

Team Leaders

Test Managers

Management

Test Automator

DBA/Env Technician

Senior Technician

Technical

Test Executors

Test Designers

Non- Functional

Test Executors

Test Designers

Functional

Application

Functional Career Model

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Career model (3) : Career model (3) : FunctionalFunctional

Advantagesmanagement is not the management is not the only route!only route!awareness of the different awareness of the different functions and skills within functions and skills within the teamthe teamcan swap from one column can swap from one column to anotherto anotherindicates that testing is indicates that testing is more than testingmore than testing

Disadvantagesmay need to introduce may need to introduce ‘‘traineetrainee’’ element to element to decide which path to decide which path to taketakesuitability of the suitability of the columns for the staffcolumns for the staff

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Example of functional Example of functional career pathcareer path

Test Manager

Junior Tester

Tester

Senior Tester

Test Team Lead

Test Team Lead

Test Consultant

Tools

Test Consultant

Process

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How your Company can How your Company can invest in you (2)invest in you (2)

Create Internal SIGIST

Time set aside in project plans for–– R&DR&D–– Coaching & mentoringCoaching & mentoring

Lunchtime sessionsLibraryConferences Training & Knowledge sharing– intranet

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Where do you go from here?Where do you go from here?

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Making it HappenMaking it Happen

PersonalPersonal–– Where am I now?Where am I now?–– Where do I want to be?Where do I want to be?–– How do get there?How do get there?–– What investment can I make?What investment can I make?–– What will I get out of it?What will I get out of it?

Small stepsSmall steps–– quick wins & short term goalsquick wins & short term goals–– long term goalslong term goals

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How will you feel?How will you feel?

Feel better in yourselfFeel 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!

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SummarySummary

You can & should take ownership for your investmentIt is important and motivationalInformation is available and don’t forget to share with othersDecide what investment you can make Keep focused and don’t lose heartYou can make it happen!

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Thank you!Thank you!

Julie GardinerJulie GardinerQST Consultants LtdQST Consultants Ltd

Email: Email: julie@qstc.co.ukjulie@qstc.co.ukMobile: +44 7974 141436Mobile: +44 7974 141436