NVP Software Solutions

Tag: QA

  • So you want to be a Software Test Manager?

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    So you want to be a software test manager and are wondering about your decision?

    There are plenty of ways to become a software test manager. If you ask current test managers how they got there, these are some of the answers you may get:

    • Traditional: They started as a tester; became a test lead and ultimately a manager.
    • They were a lead in some other area and a managerial role opened up which they took.
    • They have no background at all in any sort of role but were seconded to a Test Manger Role.
    • It is part of the career path (particularly applicable to larger organisations).

    Regardless of which path you used to get to Software Test Manager there are several common aspects once you are there:

    • Metrics are crucial at both the department and project level.
    • Much of the management is similar to other management roles.
    • Be prepared to communicate a lot and to explain over and over again why things are being done in a particular way.

    There is a lot of conferences, user groups or LinkedIn groups that cater to Test Management. One of the better known ones is the QUEST Test Manager’s Workshop.

    Due to ongoing evolution, it is critical not to lose your technical edge even as a manager. If you find yourself looking for a job later, it is helpful to be current with at least some aspects of technology. While it may not be an immediate concern it will certainly help..

    Some companies will provide career paths for personal and technical development and improvement.

    Make sure to join LinkedIn Groups and your local Quality Assurance group. These are great options for networking and finding out other information. Take a look also at straight management groups whether related to testing or not. They have lots of information for you.

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  • So you want to be a software tester?

     

    So you want to be a software tester and don’t know how to start.

    There are plenty of ways to become a software tester and we’ve talked to a number of people curious about how to break into the field. If you ask current testers what their background is here are some answers you may get: (more…)

  • Anticipate the worst and plan for the best

    Anticipate the worst and plan for the best

    The press has been full of the Mars probe crash over the past week. A sensor malfunction caused the onboard computer to think the probe was much closer to the surface than it actually was and triggered a series of actions that caused it to crash. It’s not easy to anticipate everything especially when it has to be planned out so far in advance and last minute changes are not possible. Mars probes have failed for a number of reasons over the years and knowledge of the red planet is still limited. How could quality assurance helped? (more…)

  • Stress Testing

    Stress Testing

    Think of stress testing in software testing as the confirmation that any sudden increase in transactions per unit time can be accommodated by the program being tested and won’t cause the program to stop working or degrade its operation in any manner. i.e. a short sharp peak. (more…)

  • Quality Management – A How To

     Quality Management – A How To

    Three weeks ago we asked Quality Management – Why Bother?  This week we want to look at How Quality Management is tackled. (more…)

  • QA Management – Why Bother?

    QA Management – Why Bother?

    Two weeks ago we asked if QA Management was a oxymoron. Today we are going to partially answer that question with a  NO!

    In the smallest set of terms; QA Management is there to save a company or organization money and to make a project run more smoothly. (more…)

  • QA Management – An Oxymoron

    An oxymoron is two contradictory terms that have been used in conjunction so is “QA Management” an oxymoron or is it simply contradictory? Is it possible to manage Quality Assurance for Quality Assurance or are we wasting our time trying to manage quality? (more…)

  • How Do We Train Software Testers?

    Software tester training is something that appears to require a lot more attention, given the number of conversations we have on a regular basis. We get a surprising number of questions about software tester training and plans, so we’ve dedicated our next blog series on how to train software testers. (more…)