training the next generation of testers

8/14/2019 Training the Next Generation of Testers

1/15

Bj RollisonTest Architect

Microsoft

http://www.TestingMentor.com

http://blogs.msdn.com/imtesty


2/15

Primary courseware architect

> 800 new testers/year

Worldwide locations

> 250 product lines

Cultural diversity


3/15

The need for training

Assimilating new testers onto your teams

Specific topics in software testing

Training approaches


4/15

Testing effortBlack box

Testeffectiveness

35 65%

Untested functionality

must assume 100% risk

Redundant tests orno new or relevantinformation

if (! a + b > c || ! b + c > a || ! a + c > b)if (! a + b > c || ! b + c > a || a + c == b)

< 10%probability

of execution


5/15

Time / Effort

Coverage/D

DE

Effectiveness

Scriptedtesting

Structural testing

Exploratory/behavioraltesting

Testing only to end-user perceived requirements is like inspecting a building based onthe work done by the interior decorator at the expense of the foundations, girders, and

plumbing. - Boris Beizer


6/15

Need picture of borg


7/15

Day1

Week2

NEO

Cro

ssdisciplineNewEmployeeO

rientation

New

Engine

ersatMicrosoft

CrossdisciplineN

ewEngineerOrientation

New

Tester

TestDesignapproaches

Deb

ugging

Technical Electives(Design Patterns,

Protocols, Refactoring,

RCA, other skill basedcourses)

Senio

rTester

System

Internals

TechnicalE

lectiveCou

rses

Inspections,

Globalization,

MB

T,etc.

TestA

utomation

Found

ation,

API,Reflection,

WebClient&Server

1stMonth

0 2years

2 5years

5 10years

Individual Contributor

Test Management

Test

Manager

Management

Courses(HR)Tes

tLead

TestA

rchitect


8/15

What we [finally] learned

@ 12 months before feeling confident

IndividualismLots of distracters (IM, YouTube, etc.)

Dont know they dont know

What we teach all new engineersGetting unblocked

Prioritization and time management

Organizational structural and teamwork

Product lifecycle models

Customer connections


9/15

Purpose of testing and quality perspectives

Role and responsibilities of testing

Prioritization and scoping testing workBlack, white, and gray box test design techniques

Exploratory testing

Functional techniquesStructural techniques

Modeling and abstraction

Universal tools

Increasing effectiveness of test case design

Critical information analysis and reporting


10/15

Test automation

Foundations, API, oracle designs, web clients,web services, Un-managed clients, managedclients, data-driven, etc.

Advanced topics

Advanced combinatorics, model based testing,design patterns, genetic algorithms (GA)

Debugging

System internalsGlobalization testing (including localizability)

Inspections and reviews

Software metrics


11/15

Conways Law Software

reflects the organizationalstructure that produced it.


12/15

Training is corporate investment!

It all starts with a business needs analysis

Courses support long term business visionSkills gap analysis

Where we are versus where do we want to be

Course validationManagement support

Target audience

Learning models

Learn by doing / experimentation

Case study analysis / discussion / research


13/15

Live courses

Skills based courses == hands-on labs

Knowledge based courses == discussion groupE-learning courses

Blended, interactive

Distance learningReal-time across the wire

Structured on-the-job training

Monthly test talks

Mentoring rings

Online communities


14/15

Engineering training by engineers; not HR

Create a new employee handbook

Members of teamTools, network locations, etc.

Customer info

Team best practices, process info.Glossary, acronyms

Formal software testing skills and knowledge

Peer mentors and mentoring rings

Continued educationinvest in your employees!


15/15

Testing is our profession;

Quality is our passion!

training the next generation of testers

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