Slides for a presentation titled "Agile Testers: Becoming a Key Asset for your team" given at the Next Generation Testing Executive Briefing on 19 May 2010 in London

1. Becoming a key asset for your
team: the role of agile testers
Gojko Adzic
http://gojko.net
@gojkoadzic

2. 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

3. 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

4. Problems

Testing is decoupled from development,
happens at the end

Lack of communication between business,
developers and testers

Animosity between developers and testers

6. 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. Carpenter
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Jun05/0,4670,B2Crash,00.html

7. GET INVOLVED!

8. Collaborative specifications

Your job is to provide a testing
perspective

Advise what is to be tested rather than
test it yourself

Teach them about important issues

Learn about the domain and what
developers plan to do

9. Heavy automation
• Collaborate with developers on
automation
• Learn about what they are actually doing
• Share ideas
• Get a lot more time for exploratory
testing

10. Finally stop those guys from
making the same mistakes
over and over

11. Avoid doing the same stuff
all the time

12. Get a lot more time for
exploratory testing

13. Build quality in from the start

14. Verify business rules by a click
on a button

15. Get more visibility and respect

16. • www.gojko.net
• www.acceptancetesting.info
• www.agiletesting.org.uk