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Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow

IT Certification Skills


[email protected]: 020 7917 2838 mobile: 0774 3365514 www.acutest.co.uk

Clarity Today – Confidence Tomorrow 2

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.


IT Certification Skills

& developing testing

Recognising & developing testing professionals to meet the needs of

today’s IT world

of today’s IT world


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?


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


Software testing is still immature?

But: There are examples of very good practice out

there

However: Consistency in skills and knowledge is unusual


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


What makes a great tester?

Core testing skills

Business skills

IT knowledge

Reporting writing

Technical skills – tools and programming

Above all!

People skills


In-addition – Qualities that help!

Curiosity

A need to break things

Attention to detail

Thoroughness


Skills in testing - 2 routes

Experience

system knowledgebusiness knowledgetechnical knowledge

Training

test planning, design and executiontest toolstest managementrequirement analysis

So - can anyone test?


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


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


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


Good people skills

Interpersonal skills are vital for the effective tester

trustworthy

objectivity

openness

appreciation

blameless

influencing and negotiation

giving and receiving criticism


Approaches

TesterDevelopment

TesterDevelopment

TesterDevelopment

TesterDevelopment

Testerskills

How do we tacklethis?


Approaches

TesterDevelopment

TesterDevelopment

TesterDevelopment

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


Approaches

TesterDevelopment

TesterDevelopmentProfessional/

vocational

Pros:•Credibility/universality•Career advancement•Career path/focus•Recognition of skills

Cons:•Not practical •Exam based•Commitment•Cost•Not tackling key skill areas


Approaches

TesterDevelopment

CoachingDevelopment

Pros:•Tailored•Organisation/individual specific•Measurable•Needs based

Cons:•Requires investment•Long term commitment•Beyond single project aims


Approaches

Public courses

CoachingDevelopment

Professional/vocational

Most effective

Effectivein certainareas


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


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


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


Progress so far.. Foundation

Financial Year Candidates Pass Fail % Pass % Fail

1998/ 1999 (6 months) 211 191 20 91% 9%

1999/ 2000 1333 1089 244 82% 18%

2000/ 2001 2498 2148 350 86% 14%

2001/ 2002 3600 2998 602 84% 16%

2002/ 2003 3985 3289 696 83% 17%

2003/ 2004 4865 4167 698 86% 14%

PractitionerFinancial Year Candidates Pass Fail Distinction % Pass % Fail

2002/ 2003 204 113 74 17 64% 36%

2003/ 2004 429 229 165 35 61% 39%

Almost 17000 candidates have passed Foundation course


Future

ISTQB International qualification Foundation certificate available already Forum for testing


SummaryTesting 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 riskTesting skills certification: ISEB/ISTQB have made a brave start Multiple skills are required Need a multi-pronged attack Long term - coaching and support work!

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