Nicky Tests Software

Kim Engel is a software test manager focused on user experience and fostering communication between stakeholders. She is a regular attendee of the OZWST peer conference, an avid reader and occasional writer of testing blogs , and an infrequent tweeter  @kengel100 . Kim is in the process of overcoming 10+ years of traditional testing experience to adopt a Context Driven approach to Testing. What was the hardest part about the transition from a traditional Test Manager to a Context Driven Test Manager? For me the hardest part was actually shifting my own way of thinking. I'd been frustrated by the ever-growing number of test cases that needed to be maintained and executed. I'd tried various ways of revising my testing approach to align with the V-Model, and seen no major differences in outcome. I'd taken an ISTQB course on Practical Test Management and emerged none the wiser and still had no idea how to address the overall issue of testing becoming an obstacle

I'm currently working on my presentation on Bug Advocacy for the next WeTest Auckland meetup  using Prezi  - which is seriously nifty. In the process, I'm learning a helluva lot. You see, there are a lot of things I do as a Tester but, until now, I haven't stopped to ask myself why. Communicate Effectively It's amazing how important it is to communicate effectively in order to advocate for your bugs in the best possible way - whether that be written or verbal. One of the things I learned from my BBST Experience  is that the use of formatting can really help you get a point across. You could: Split it up into paragraphs Use italics Underline subheadings Use bold to highlight important sentences In addition, being able to drive your point home by talking to someone face to face really helps too. I learned some valuable tips from Wil McLellan at a previous WeTest Auckland meeting.