getting business people and developers to listen to testers
DESCRIPTION
Presentation given at the 23rd UK Test Management forum on Wednesday 29th July 2009 about communication problems on software teams and specification workshops from a testing perspective.TRANSCRIPT
Getting business people and developers to listen to
testersGojko Adzic
http://[email protected]
@gojkoadzic
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcodysimms/246023851/
Problems
Developers invading into testing → loss of control
Lack of documentation, so people don't know what to test → no effect
Very little influence → no respect People feel pushed out → no job satisfaction No clear definition of work → confusion, fear
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mulesafpilot/3513588967
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lambdachialpha/157986473/
An experiment with four active battalions in US Army
Commander expectations matched actions in only 34% of the cases
L.G.Shattuck, 2000http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/milreview/shattuck.pdf
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mataniere/3107073262
The process is very much like a telephone game
B2 bomber crashed and $2bn went up in flames
"the aircraft actually performed as it was designed. In other words, all the systems were
functioning normally."
Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Carpenterhttp://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jun05/0,4670,B2Crash,00.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/biolog/3457774800
You can't help a lot when the party is already over...
Problems
Developers invading into testing → loss of control
Lack of documentation, so people don't know what to test → no effect
Very little influence → no respect People feel pushed out → no job satisfaction No clear definition of work → confusion, fear
Problems Symptoms
Developers invading into testing → loss of control
Lack of documentation, so people don't know what to test → no effect
Very little influence → no respect People feel pushed out → no job satisfaction No clear definition of work → confusion, fear
Problems
Testing is decoupled from development, happens on the end
Lack of communication between business, developers and testers
Animosity between developers and testers
Specification workshops
Everyone in the same room to discuss and agree on what should be done
Iron out inconsistencies and gaps Warn, suggest, discuss, convince Communicate intent Learn!
Solutions for problems
Workshops promote communication between business, developers and testers
Testers can influence the specifications same as anyone else
Everyone learns first-hand what the specification is so people know what to develop and test
People start understanding what testers do and respect it
• www.gojko.net
• www.acceptancetesting.info
• www.agiletesting.org.uk
(from tomorrow)