I would advise all testers, experienced and newcomers to recognize that the testing discipline, unlike development, is not technology-focused. It is an information business, a people business and a business business. What do I mean by that?

The purpose of testing is to collect, analyse and disseminate information. Testers do not write code, they do not put bugs in and do not take bugs out. In this respect, we do not improve quality or add value to the products we test. We are however responsible for providing the most valuable information required by developers (to fix bugs), project management (to understand achievement and product-risk) and stakeholders to recognise business value. In this one respect, testing is all powerful – it is the single source of knowledge of achievement in software projects.

Testing is a people business. By this, I mean that most system and acceptance testers need excellent interpersonal skills, particularly communication skills. Testers need at one time or another to communicate with, negotiate with, influence and advise end users, developers, technical/environmental support, project management, business and stakeholder management, internal and external auditors, outsource companies, customers, client services, and product managers. Interpersonal skills are, in that kind of environment, more important than technical skills.

A business business? Ultimately, testing exists to detect bugs to protect end users, but we should look to a higher goal: to inform business user and management decision making. The stakeholders who must decide to release, accept, delay, re-think or re-plan software projects are critically dependent on the information produced by testers. In this respect, testers are the best friend of business and stakeholders. Obvious, really – isn’t it?

So I have these suggestions for all testers:

• Understand the value of the information you provide to your projects. Focus your attention on learning what information your stakeholders need and in what form, and pursue a test strategy designed to optimize that information service.


• Recognize the importance of interpersonal skills. Hone them, practice them, evaluate and refine them. Seek out good communications skills training and enroll.


• Acquire friends in your business. Ask them what their fears are for success and what information they need to make their acceptance decisions with confidence. If you work for a product company, your strongest advocates will be in Product Management or Customer Services.


• Find a coach. This might be your boss, but could be a colleague or even a stakeholder. Seek out an adviser and leader who will give you a lead, push you and encourage you. In particular, find a coach that will advocate your role as an information provider and decision enabler.