It’s the same argument again and again. One side says “team members should all be able to do everything, and the programmers should do their testing and all testers should be writing code”. The other side says “No, that can’t possibly work – programmers don’t know how to test, they don’t have the right mindset”. And on and on it goes.
http://huddle.eurostarsoftwaretesting.com/resource/webinar/need-testers-agile-teams/
WSO2Con2024 - WSO2's IAM Vision: Identity-Led Digital Transformation
Do we need testers on agile teams?
1. Janet Gregory, DragonFire Inc.
Copyright 2016
EuroStar Test Huddle
November 2016
@janetgregoryca
With input from Lisa Crispin
2. • It’s the same argument again and again.
• One side says “team members should all be
able to do everything, and the programmers
should do their testing and all testers should
be writing code”.
• The other side says “No, that can’t possibly
work – programmers don’t know how to test,
they don’t have the right mindset”. And on
and on it goes.
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3. • an activity; not a phase
• interactive and starts from the beginning
• more than testing code
3
Potentially shippable
product
Potentially shippable
product
10. • Testing provides feedback
• Developers think about testability
• Testers think about the big picture
• Multiple skill sets mean better solutions
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11.
12. Copyright 2009 Janet Gregory, DragonFire 12
The Agile Testing Quadrants (adapted from Brian Marick)
13. • Are a thinking tool
• Can be used to explain testing in
a common language
• Emphasize whole-team
responsibility
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14. • Checking: Does the system do
what it's supposed to do?
- let’s automate this together
• Exploring: Are there any other
risks or vulnerabilities that we
haven't thought about yet?
• Testing = checking + exploring
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**Elisabeth Hendrickson, The Two Sides of Software Testing,
Agile Connection
GUI
API
Unit Tests
15. It’s not just about code !!!
◦ Test assumptions
◦ Explore ideas
The goal:
◦ Shared common understanding of the story
◦ Preventing defects in the code (eliminate waste)
17. • Curiosity
• Ability to observe
• Ability to challenge
• To give valuable feedback
• Ability to adapt
• To recognize contexts
• Technical awareness
• Ability to THINK !
18. Instead of
◦ We’re here to find bugs … or ensure
requirements are met … or break the
software …
Think
◦ What can I do to help deliver
the quality solutions?
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19. Instead of
We’re here to code and throw it over
the wall and then fix bugs.
Think
What can I do to help create
testable code and deliver the
software successfully?
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20. Instead of
We’re here to tell you what
we want, and you just do it.
Think
How can I work with the
development team to deliver
the software successfully?
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21. So to answer the question …..
Do we need testers on agile teams?
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23. • Testers are NOT responsible for quality
◦ The whole team is
• Programmers do not code alone
◦ Everyone helps them understand what to code
• Your team needs the “right” roles and people
◦ Those in transition may feel protective of role
◦ New skills may be needed
24. 24
• Can’t “test quality in”
• Everyone collaborates
• Whole team thinks about testing
• Team is committed to quality
25. • Elisabeth Hendrickson
CAST keynote http://www.slideshare.net/ehendrickson
Explore It! – new book on Pragmatic Programmers
• Paul Carvalho,
http://www.agilejournal.com/articles/columns/column-
articles/6515-low-tech-tools-for-the-thinking-tester
• Karten, Naomi, "Are You Listening?",
http://www.agileconnection.com/article/are-you-listening, Agile
Connection, 2009
26. • Keogh, Liz, http://lunivore.com - look for her posts on BDD, Real
Options
• Knight, Adam P., "T-shaped Tester, Square Shaped Team",
http://thesocialtester.co.uk/t-shaped-tester-square-shaped-team/,
2013
• Lambert, Rob, "T-shaped Testers and Their Role In a Team",
http://thesocialtester.co.uk/t-shaped-testers-and-their-role-in-a-
team/ , 2012
• Levison, Mark, "The Beginner's Mind - An Approach to Listening",
http://www.infoq.com/news/2008/08/beginners_mind, InfoQ, 2008
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27. Agile Testing: A Practical Guide for Testers and Agile Teams
More Agile Testing: Learning Journeys for the Whole Team
By Janet Gregory and Lisa Crispin
www.agiletester.ca
www.agiletester.com
Contact info
www.janetgregory.ca
Email: janet@agiletester.ca
Twitter: janetgregoryca
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