getting business people and developers to listen to testers

Getting business people and developers to listen to

testersGojko Adzic

http://gojko.netgojko@gojko.net

@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)