2. Purpose
• This presentation brings forward questions regarding the tester skill
set and how this skill set can be associated with different roles
• Defining the complete tester skill set is beyond the scope of this
presentation, but let this be the seed to a fruitful discussion
• The purpose is to highlight the value of thinking about the tester skill
set, and how it can be used in practice
3. The Testing Skill Set - Overview
• Testing is a wide field of expertise – it can be creating low level unit
tests in C, writing test reports for high management, exploratory
testing, setting test scopes based on risk, developing test tools,
reviewing code & requirements, analyzing code coverage, testability
thinking, and so on
• By mapping all these necessary skills, it would be possible to give an
overview of what the testing skill set includes
• It is clear that no one person can cover the entire skill set
• It is also clear that not only the traditional tester role need parts of
the skill set in their everyday work
4. The Testing Skill Set – Limited Example
Testing Mindset Test Automation & Tools
Skill A Skill B Skill C Skill n Skill A Skill B Skill C Skill n
Test Design and Methods Test Management
Skill A Skill B Skill C Skill n Skill A Skill B Skill C Skill n
5. The Testing Skill Set – Role Mapping
Testing Mindset Test Automation & Tools
Skill A Skill B Skill C Skill n Skill A Skill B Skill C Skill n
Test Design and Methods Test Management
Skill A Skill B Skill C Skill n Skill A Skill B Skill C Skill n
Manual Tester Test Leader Developer Role n
6. The Individual Skill Set
• One individual can only master a certain number of skills, limited by
time, focus, interest, and many other factors
• Expecting one individual to cover the entire testing skill set is
unreasonable
• It is important to understand this limitation – no one person can
cover the entire testing skill set
• Let us say that one person can only learn an arbitrary number of
skills - what skills are the most important to master?
7. Securing the Right Skill Set for the Right
Position
• When hiring a new tester, developer, or manager – think about what
parts of the testing skill set are needed in this position
• Does the developer need to know how to write unit tests? Execute
manual tests? Write test plans?
• Does the tester need to be able to automate test cases, both on API and
UI level? Or is it enough to execute manual test cases? It is difficult to
be both a master of testability and C unit tests, and also be proficient
in risk-based scope setting on system level and exploratory testing
• Does the manager need to master the testing mind set to be able to
lead properly, or to drive quality in a good way?
• Of course we always want everyone to know everything – but what
are the most important skills you prioritize for a certain position?
8. The Tester Skill Set – Learning and
Development
• By identifying the important skills for a certain position it is also
possible to use this knowledge when it comes to learning and
development [1]
• This way an individual knows what parts of the testing skill set is
needed to perform the job efficiently and can work on improving
those areas specifically
9. The Testing Skill Set – Screening and Selection
• With the testing skill set completely mapped and certain skills
assigned to different positions, screening and selection for these
roles is facilitated
• It is much easier to know what skills to focus the screening and
selection on, instead of trying to cover the entire testing skill set [2]
• This will decrease individual preferences and bias of certain skills
and instead make it clearer which skills are needed for which
positions
10. The Testing Skill Set – Evaluation
• Having mapped the testing skill set also make it easier to evaluate
performance of different positions
• If a position “Developer” is expected to have certain skills from the
testing skill set, this can be compared not only between developers,
but also with other positions required to have the same skills
• Skills are comparable independent of the position a person is in, as
long as two positions are both expected to have the same skills
11. Role vs. Skill Set
• Instead of focusing on different roles, we should look at the skill sets
associated with those roles
• Different positions require different skill sets
• Parts of these skill sets are overlapping, and parts of the skill sets are
unique to a certain position, or at least not shared by everyone
• The testing skill set is not reserved for only traditional tester roles –
it spans over many different positions
• A developer, manager or project lead also need parts of the testing
skill set to be able to do their job properly
12. Summary
• The next step is to try to create a complete map of the testing skill set
• This is no easy task, and the testing skill set continuously evolves
• The testing skill set is also context dependant, even though there is
most likely a core which is common to the whole software industry
• Over time certain skills grow obsolete and will need to be removed
from the skill set [3]
• Hopefully this presentation will have given you some ideas of where
to start thinking
13. Reference
[1] Verification Learning & Development Plan
http://www.slideshare.net/JohanHoberg/verification-learning-development-plan
[2] Interview with a Tester
http://www.slideshare.net/JohanHoberg/interview-with-a-tester
[3] Exploring Test Roles
http://angryweasel.com/blog/?p=444
