boot camp and beyond' by jackie mcdougall
DESCRIPTION
Quality in the software development lifecycle can be seen as being underpinned by good Process, Tools, and People. After working on a number of pre-sales assignments last year, I realised that I could comfortably define our test process and tools approach, but when it came to ‘people’ questions, the response was disjointed. I could provide good individual answers to questions, like ‘What are the skills and experience of your test team?’ or ‘How would you implement a knowledge transfer plan?’, but there seemed to be no framework holding it all together and driving quality from a ‘people’ perspective. Then I was asked to assist some colleagues in France, who ran a service centre where they supported software applications for a large retail client. An opportunity had arisen to discuss with the client a testing service, where additional applications would be brought into the service centre and tested on the client’s behalf. My French colleagues needed help defining test processes and tools, which I was only too pleased to help with, but something caught my eye in their solution outline. They planned to utilise a tailored customer ‘academy’ they already had in place for the service centre, which brought in new team members, and got them up to speed in everything they needed to know to hit the ground running. I had seen the academy concept in action before – but only very specifically around test analysis. What was new about the French model, was that it encompassed customer context and culture, ongoing technical skills, and very specific functional knowledge that staff would have to gain in order to succeed. Much of the ‘people’ information I’d provided for individual projects was applicable in this wider model, and could be brought together to form a more cohesive approach to resource and knowledge management. I realised that with a bit of coordination, I could create a compelling model not only for creating a specific test team, but one which could pro-actively drive the quality of the testing (and the software) in the longer term.TRANSCRIPT
Boot Camps and BeyondJackie McDougall, Sopra Group
Once upon a time...
The “ABC” Boot Camp
The “ABC” Boot Camp - Modules
General Culture
The “ABC” Boot Camp - Modules
Development/Testing Knowledge
The “ABC” Boot Camp - Modules
Functional Knowledge
The “ABC” Boot Camp - Modules
Technical Knowledge (Testing)
The “ABC” Boot Camp - Modules
Sample Testing Academy Content
Formal CoursesSoftware Testing Essentials Using Quality CenterEffective Management of Time Web Functionality Testing Web Performance & Security Testing User Acceptance Testing ISEB/ISTQB Foundation in Software Testing Classroom Based Training/Self-StudyInductionHow to Write Good Test ScriptsBugs/Faults MS Excel IT Background - Operating Systems, Databases, LanguagesIntroduction to SQLBlack Box Testing Course Profile of a Tester Mock Project(s)
What are Boot Camps?
Supply Chain Stock Control Sales System MI Reports
Training Structure
Staff InductionHR/Logisitics/Admin information
Training Plan/Courseware
General CultureRetail Basics, Service Centre
and Context of ABC, Quality & Standards
Testing & Technical KnowledgeTesting Methodology & Process at ABC
Testing tools at ABC
Functional ModulesTailored for the Project& the Role(Tester)
Generic Modules
2 days
8 days
5 – 8 days each
0.5 days
...paired with a proven Knowledge Acquisition Approach...
Start End Month 1 End Month 2 End Month 3Start End Month 1 End Month 2 End Month 3
Project Documentation Self Study Simulation of project environment/assisted perform activities
Extended Team/Shadow Support
Classroom Sessions Reverse Presentation & Knowledge Assessment
Supply Chain(Presentation,Classroom Presentation, Self Study,Extended Team, Assisted Perform)
Stock Control(Presentation,Classroom Presentation, Self Study,Extended Team,Assisted Perform)
Sales System(Presentation,Classroom Presentation, Self Study,Extended Team,Assisted Perform)
MI Reports(Presentation,Classroom Presentation, Self Study,Extended Team, Assisted Perform)
Training Structure
Staff InductionHR/Logisitics/Admin information
Training Plan/Courseware(presentation)
General CultureRetail Basics, Service Centre
and Context of ABC, Quality & Standards(presentation, classroom sessions, extended team)
Testing & Technical KnowledgeTesting Methodology & Process at ABC
Testing tools at ABC(presentation, classroom sessions, self study,
extended team)
Functional
(Simulation of Project Environment, Reverse Presentation & Knowledge Assessment)
ModulesTailored for the Project& the Role(Tester)
Generic Modules
2 days
8 days
5 days training & 5 days shadowing each; 5 days to prepare & present back all
0.5 days
A new improved “ABC” Boot Camp?
Testing Knowledge
Technical
Knowledge- Can be dev, test
- Can be novice
or experience
General culture
Functional knowledge
Knowledge
cycle
Reverse Presentation & Knowledge Assessment
Classroom Sessions
Extended Team/Shadow
Project Documents
Self Study
Classroom Sessions
Extended Team/Shadow
Project Documents
Self Study
Classroom Sessions
Extended Team/Shadow
Project Documents
Self Study
Classroom Sessions
Extended Team/Shadow
Project Documents
Assisted perform
...but can we do more?
Start End Month 1 End Month 2 End Month 3
Project Documentation Self Study Simulation of project environment/assisted perform activities
Extended Team/Shadow Support
Classroom Sessions Reverse Presentation & Knowledge Assessment
Create/Amend Knowledge Management Repository
Defect Reports and Root Cause Analysis Logs
Continuous Refresh of Source Material and Participants’ Training Plans
Include Testing Academy approach (testing novices)
Participants to run Exploratory Test sessions?
Encourage participants to have informal feedback sessions with each other
