The Path to Test Leadershipa road less traveled…

Tariq King

TALK OUTLINE

Testing Career Paths

Roles and Levels

Choosing the Right Path

Starting Your Journey

Learning Material

Wrap Up

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Architect Fellow

Engineer I

Manager

Intern (Start)

Engineer III/IV

DirectorVPCQO

Lead People

Engineer II Engineer III

Subject Matter Expert Individual Contributor

Lead Technology

Lead

Software Test/Quality Engineer Career Paths

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No techniques.

Little to no testing knowledge and

experience.

Able to execute

predefined tests.

Guided in basic

testing practices.

Guided learning of single domain.

INTERN

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Basic techniques.

Create and execute

tests using boundaries,

equivalence classing,

decision tables, and

exploratory methods.

Independent in basic

test practices.

Basic knowledge of single domain.

TEST ENGINEER I

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Intermediate techniques.

Create and execute

tests using all pairs,

state transitions, domain

analysis, and scenario-

based methods.

Technical track: basic

statement and branch

coverage, code reviews,

and test automation.

Proficient, single domain.

TEST ENGINEER II

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Advanced techniques.

Master black box, and

reach intermediate

white box, or vice versa.

Basic knowledge of

single property area.

Technical track: multiple

condition, basis path,

and loop coverage.

Proficient single domain,

basic second domain.

TEST ENGINEER III

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Authority in particular

area or topic.

Mentor others in a

specific domain.

No other change in

responsibilities.

ExpertAuthority over team

or organization.

Coach others along

career paths.

Shift in responsibilities,

day-to-day.

Leader

Both?

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TEST

LEA

D

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Technology Leaders

Practices

Strategies

Tools

Innovation

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Testing Expert

Train Engineers

Implement Tools

Create Strategies

Conduct Research

Org-Level Resource

Industry Contributor

TEST ARCHITECT

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Distinguished Engineer

Technical Evangelist

Guide and Mentor Architects

Lead Research Initiatives

Establish Special Projects

Set Future Directions

Industry Leader

ENGINEERING FELLOW

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People Leaders

Emotional Intelligence

Team Building

Collaboration

Career Development

Fostering

Communication

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Tactical

Leads Engineers

Single Quality Area

Triage/Assign Tasks

Hire/Inspire Engineers

Team Engagement

Intra-Department

Collaboration

TEST MANAGER

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Strategic

Leads Managers

Multiple Quality Areas

Develops Plans

Hire/Inspire Managers

Manager Engagement

Inter-Department

Collaboration

TEST DIRECTOR

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Forecasting

Leads Directors

All Quality Areas

Develops Plans

Hire/Inspire Leaders

Director Engagement

Company-Wide

Collaboration

VICEPRESIDENT

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Long-Term Strategic

and Forecasting

Reports to CEO

Leads VPs

All Quality Areas

VP Engagement

Industry-Wide

Collaboration

CHIEF QUALITY OFFICER

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Which path to choose?

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Howdo you start climbing the

corporate ladder?

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Keep going the extra mile…It’s never crowded.

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Find the right mentorbut start your

own ascent.

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Find the right mentor…but start your

own ascent.

R

Create/Evaluate

New Tools

Improve

ProcessPilot New

Initiatives

Invest in

People

WAYS TO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP

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Express your desire to lead

to the right people.

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Create a successor, success depends on it.

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Create a successor… success depends on it.

Marks

MaturityDo not

DoubleFocus on

Future

Increase

Incrementally

SUCCESSION PLANNING

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Pass the baton, and let it go.

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Pass the baton… and let it go.13

4

Delegate FirstPause & Evaluate

Don’t Delegate

Love HatePASSION

Go

od

No

t G

oo

dC

OM

PETE

NC

E

2Delegate Next

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Establish an executive presence

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Lead yourself in learning.

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FUNDAMENTALS BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY

INTRODUCTIONSoftware Engineering

Software Testing

Value of Testing

Testing Challenges

TESTING THEORYIdeal Test

Laws and Axioms

TESTING PRACTICETest Design

Exploratory Testing

Automated Testing

Test Reporting

Reviews

Risk Analysis

LEVELSStory

Feature

Feature Interaction

Functional End-to-End

MODELSDecision Tables

State Machines

COVERAGE

Acceptance Criteria

Positive Scenarios

Negative Scenarios

Rules/Variants

States

Transitions

LEVELSUnit TestingClass Integration

Service

Service Integration

MODELSFlow Charts

UML Diagrams

COVERAGE StatementBranch

Condition

Basis Path

Loops

Definition-Use Paths

NON-FUNCTIONAL

PERFORMANCEScalability

Stability

Reliability

COMPATIBILITY

Platforms

Devices

SECURITYBuffer Overflow

Injection Techniques

Denial of Service

USABILITYUser-Friendliness

Accessibility

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PRACTICAL TESTING: DESIGN, EXPLORE, BREAK

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PRACTICAL TESTING: DESIGN, EXPLORE, BREAK

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AUTOMATED TESTING: SCRIPT, REFACTOR, REPORT

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STATIC TESTING: INSPECT, REVIEW, WALKTHROUGH

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SECURITY TESTING: HACK, ATTACK, DEFEND

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PERFORMANCE TESTING: RESPOND, SCALE, RELY

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LEADERSHIP: SERVE, DEVELOP, INSPIRE, INFLUENCE

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Be a conference presenter…

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Be a conference presenter…

Prepare Propose Pitch Present

SPEAKER SUBMISSION PROCESS

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Hang in there…a promotion will come.

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THANK YOU…