Do Test Managers exist in the world of Agile?

About UsBen Williams – Agile Coach

@13enWilliams

Tom Roden – Agile Coach & Test <something>

@TommRoden

Our underlying assumptions

Agile methods are on a continually increasing trend

Computer Weekly Jobs, 8th November 2012

There is no prescribed Test Manager role in Agile methods

What does this mean?

Our Hypothesis

So what are our choices?

Routes

Stay in the market for traditional Test Management?

http://rontalk.com/

Get into another profession entirely?

http://byrev.org/

Make the voyage into Agile?

Any other options

Exploring the move to Agile…

But is there a need for a dedicated test related role outside of a Feature Team?

What are the responsibilities of a Test Manager?

The group’s Thoughts on how traditional TM tasks translate into agile

Goes Away in Agile Team (incl. SM & PO) should coverTeam should own, but likely to need outside support

Dedicated role outside the team

Control Resolving team conflicts Mediating cross team discussions and disputes Establishing QA Function and operating model

Writing Test Plans Test Planning Raising team profile Accountable for testing quality output

Report Writer Deciding when enough testing has been done Coach Product Owners on testable acceptance criteria Test tool adoption and usage (tool proliferation and rationalisation)

Project data analysis (needs further definition?) Lead & motivate within the team Process Improvement (cross team / divisional) Contribute to business decisions

Managing People Test approach and acceptance requirements Team Development Lead & motivate across teamsFacilitate comms between business and IT teams defect manager Line Management Measure and Report on project / test progressInvolved from concept to cash and in operation risk mitigation (identification and owner) Test Recruitment Process development improvement

Use case challenger Test reporting measure level of quality Mitigating the SDET myth

Test Activity Planning (MS Project) running system integration tests Coach non testers on design for testability Project resourcingCounter point to Project Manager (quality vs time) security and other non-functional testing mentor feature team members

Push for long term efficiency not just short term requirements

Providing sign-off OAT coaching in testing Testing is an activity not a single role

test specification Lead by example No need for a Test Mgr in a truly agile team

Reviews and approvals Fighting / standing up for the team Team appraisals?

QA ManagementHave the broader view, are the business getting what they really wanted People Management

Managing tests Test environment coordination Personal development plans

Test environment definition Training and skills development Managing offshore partners

Test Data Management Test Process Improvement Comms with senior stakeholdersOrganise reviews of Test Basis Docs (func specs etc.)

Identify new tools, processes and practices to facilitate improvement Educate on effective test techniques

Provide Metricsarticulation and management of non-functional risks (to auditable std) Develop Junior Testers to work better for teams

Making it all add up(?) take important decisions regarding quality Quality Conscience?

ensure enough testing has happened Define and agree test strategy Team Resourcing?

Release management and documentation Thought leadership (around testing)Identify quality process problems / opportunities Issue resolution

Test infrastructure requests and management Building a team

Provide info on quality of systems and services Promotion / enforcement of validation / verification

Telling people the truth about quality provision of professional cynicism (iceberg avoidance)

Plan and manage the testing Test environment ownership

Report test coverage What problem is agile testing trying to solve?

Business LiaisonCo-ordinate disparate testing activities (cross projects, companies)

Report and Manage metrics

Lead strategic discussions (needs qualifying further)

Gaining stakeholder buy-in to the test approach

Risk Management

motivating and engaging testers

First refinement of these tasks

So what might this role do?

Set a direction and philosophy of testing

Help devise strategies for testing

Coach teams in testing practices & techniques

Writing good tests

Self-documenting

Isolated

Concise

A spec not a script

About behaviour

Readable

Clear intention

Build models for self-regulation

And Other Stuff maybe…

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Conclusions

What skills does this role need?

So is there a better name for this role?

Thank You for listening

Ben Williams – ben@13enWilliams.com

@13enWilliams

Tom Roden – Tom.roden@neuri.co.uk

@TommRoden