Test Management Summit

April 2015

“Test Automation for Managers”

Alan Richardsonwww.compendiumdev.co.uk

Basic Agenda

● Logistics intro (75 minute session)● I talk for 15 minutes

○ but you can interrupt and start a discussion immediately

● We all discuss for 60 minutes○ I have material if we need it to start discussions○ We will be flexible and adjust direction based on

what you want to discuss.

Demographics

● Managers, Consultants, Doers● Technical? Not Technical?● Automating?

What do you want out of this session?

Today we will discuss Automation

What is Automation?● Use of tools?● Programming?● No manual intervention?

How does automation work?

● Does it work?● Magic?● How do you know it works?

Who can use automation?● Can you program?● Can you push a button?● We automate the automation!

What is automation for?

● Build a better CV and get a better job?● Reduce headcount?● Save money?● Allow focus elsewhere?

On the question of

“Do you need to be technical, to manage automation?”

“New technology is exposing management to ideas that were not dealt with in the textbooks and the classroom of ten or fifteen years ago… The executive who does not keep his ideas modern by constant, aggressive learning from every available source will increasingly often be called on to make decision on problems he cannot grasp…”

Automation, by Carl Dreher, 1957, pg 15

“He must, as in the past, be so complete a master of the technical aspects of his profession that his subordinates will recognise his master, and be prepared to learn from him. This postulates the need to keep abreast of the changes and advances which lie within his own special field through the period of his service during which he is concerned with such matters.”

The Art of Leadership, Captain S.W. Roskill, 1964, pg 30

There is a difference between management and leadership.

How can manager’s help?

● Experience● Coaching● Questioning● Removing obstacles● Learning● Defining Needs & Constraints● Recruitment

How can managers hinder?

● Mandates & Edicts● Metrics● Meetings● Process● Lack of Understanding

Initial Discussion points?● Managing without technical skills?● Managing with technical skills?● How do you know automation is working?● How to recruit?● How do you start automating?● Questions? ● Risks? ● Issues?

Mindmaps of discussion points

… if needed to trigger discussion

What Tools?Future Challenges?Current Issues, Questions, Risks?Experiences of what can go wrong?Experiences of what can go right?

Controversies

● Should automation be a programmer responsibility?

● All testers should learn to code?● You can’t automate testing, only checking

Alan Richardson uk.linkedin.com/in/eviltester

Independent Test Consultant based in the UK. He offers training and consultancy in Selenium WebDriver, Exploratory and Technical web testing.

Contact Alan for training andconsultancy tailored to your needs:

http://compendiumdev.co.uk/contact

Blogs and Websites

● CompendiumDev.co.uk● SeleniumSimplified.com● EvilTester.com● JavaForTesters.com● Twitter: @eviltester

Online Training Courses

● Selenium 2 WebDriver with Java○ Unow.be/at/webdriverapi

● Technical Web Testing 101○ Unow.be/at/techwebtest101

Videos

youtube.com/user/EviltesterVideos

Books

Selenium SimplifiedUnow.be/rc/selsimp

Java For Testersleanpub.com/javaForTesters