David Kolb describes four different experiential learning styles: doing, experiencing, observing and planning. Each person has their own preferred learning style and none can be called best. To maximize the retention of what you’ve learned, you should actually run through all 4 stages, independent of which stage you used as a starting point. On top of that, you might not always use the same starting point, depending on the situation, your experience and the way you are guided in your tasks. Hersey and Blanchard have provided us with a model to describe how we can guide others. This model has four different leadership styles which are dependent on a person’s motivation and knowledge. Every manager and every managed person fits at least one style, be it telling, selling, participating or delegation. Again no style can be called best and styles may vary depending on the situation. It’s clear that every tester has its own preferred testing style. Some testers plan everything ahead, while others are fond of exploratory testing. Our own approach depends not only on our own preferences but also on other circumstances like our experience, the budget and the deadlines to meet. Can we draw any lines between David Kolb’s learning cycle and the different test approaches? Are agile, exploratory and structured testing, to name a few, different starting points in a testing cycle, like the learning styles in Kolb's learning circle? What would this testing cycle look like and could we conclude that it doesn't matter what approach you use because in the end, you've done them all? Should we conclude that no approach is best? And what is the role of the test manager in all this? Can we influence the testing style of our testers by changing the way we guide them, using Hersey and Blanchard’s model of leadership and guiding? And what guidance fits which testing approach best? In this presentation, we’ll dive into the theory of why a certain (test) approach might or might not work for you, and what should be the best management approach per test style.

1. Wim Decoutere & Michaël Pilaeten
Situational Leadership Styles
On Test Approaches

2. SOME WARMING UP
2© 2011 CTG, Inc.

3. 3© 2011 CTG, Inc.

4. 4© 2011 CTG, Inc.
What do YOU do?
 You’ve done this before… You first read the instructions carefully You sort the box contents first You follow the instructions step by step

5. KOLB’S LEARNING CYCLE
5© 2011 CTG, Inc.

6. Kolb’s Learning Cycle
6© 2011 CTG, Inc.

7. Kolb’s Learning Cycle
7© 2011 CTG, Inc.
Perceiving

8. Kolb’s Learning Cycle
8© 2011 CTG, Inc.
Thinking / Planning
Perceiving

9. Kolb’s Learning Cycle
9© 2011 CTG, Inc.
Applying
Perceiving
Thinking / Planning

10. Kolb’s Learning Cycle
10© 2011 CTG, Inc.
Doing
Perceiving
Thinking / PlanningApplying

11. Kolb’s Learning Cycle
11© 2011 CTG, Inc.
Doing Perceiving
Thinking / PlanningApplying

12. Kolb’s Learning Cycle
12© 2011 CTG, Inc.

13. LEADERS
13© 2011 CTG, Inc.

14. 14© 2011 CTG, Inc.

15. 15© 2011 CTG, Inc.

16. 16© 2011 CTG, Inc.

17. 17© 2011 CTG, Inc.

18. LEADERSHIP STYLES
Hersey & Blanchard’s
18© 2011 CTG, Inc.

19. 4 different leadership styles:
Leadership Styles
19© 2011 CTG, Inc.

20. Relationshipfocus
Task focus
Leadership Styles
20© 2011 CTG, Inc.

21. WHAT’S IN IT FOR ME?
Conclusion
21© 2011 CTG, Inc.

22. Leadership Styles
22© 2011 CTG, Inc.

23. PLEASE TRY THIS AT HOME!
23© 2011 CTG, Inc.

24. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Wim Decoutere – wim.decoutere@ctg.com
Michaël Pilaeten – michael.pilaeten@ctg.com – @mpilaeten
24© 2011 CTG, Inc.