First Steps in becoming a better tester

Codrin Merlusca

What I thought…

What we must...

What we could…

The Recipe

Main Ingredient

Initiative

Initiative Levels

Level 1 - WAIT

Level 2 - ASK

Level 3 - PROPOSE

Level 4 - ACT

What is your initiative level ?

Communication

DO NOT ACT IMPULSIVE

Be Prepared with all the information

Initial Condition

Actions step by step

Expected result (according to requirement)

Actual Result

Requirement interpretation

Process knowledge (according to project rules)

Test plan

Listen, understand and offer him the testing perspective

Personal Efficiency

Our NEVER daily work

Our daily work

Prioritization

Efficiency after prioritization

Analytic Thinking

Analytic Thinking

Analytic Thinking is the abstract separation of a whole into its constituent parts in order to study the parts and their relations

In other words…

Analytic Thinking

Overload

Scenario 1:You are responsible testing a delivery that will be in 2 days instead of 4 days.

The usual amount of work has not decreased and also you have been informed that you must treat this with high interest.

Scenario 2:You are responsible in testing a delivery that lasts 4 days.

After 3 days of hard work you are informed that some new changes will be in and you must redo the tests, the deadline instead is not changed .

WHAT TO DO

Provide an effort estimation regarding the testing activity requestedProvide a quality risk argumentDiscuss with the architect regarding the impact of the changeProvide a proposal regarding the optimization of the test activity ( reducing the activity to high priority, the important/urgent)Provide test reduction possibility also consulting the Quality TeamInform the TL about the situation

WHAT NOT TO DO Faint so you can gain pityPresent your resignationCall your mother and cry Drink at work

You are the most experienced tester in the project.

Now you are a mentor for a new colleague.

The amount of load in the project is the same and due to your new mentoring tasks to help when he requests, you might not finish in time the delivery

Mentoring

WHAT TO DO

Prioritize his tasksTeach him to gather all the unclear issues and plan a moment in the day to clarify themTeach him to take notes for the things you clarify and to keep it in a “how to” document Take him for a few hours to observe the way you are executing the tasks so he can also learn the mechanism Take/give weekly feedback regarding your teaching skills and his comprehensive for knowing what to improve

WHAT NOT TO DO Curse himSlap himMake him cryGive him nicknamesMake him trip and make fun of him in front of everybodyAdvise him to quit

Missing Knowledge

You are responsible in testing a specific area and you are having troubles in creating/executing those tescases due to lack of knowledge.

Your team is also very busy with different tasks for the same delivery.

WHAT TO DO

Gather the unclear information in a documentCheck the documents regarding the specific area (req / arch)Check the bug/functionality description and implementation informationCheck with developers/architects for information Ask a tester colleague with experience to help you Keep a document with all the information provided for next time Inform the TL regarding the lack of knowledge for possible training WHAT NOT TO DO

Close yourself in the bathroom and cryPay someone to do it or try to blackmailTrip “accidentally” on the stairs and take a sick leave Get nervous and brake the computer