The document discusses different models for organizing software testing teams: just-in-time, entry as test engineer, policy-driven, testing and development under one manager, and independent testing team. It outlines the beliefs of organizations that use each model and potential issues with each, such as lack of core testing skills, high attrition, and conflicting priorities between teams. The document concludes that independent testing teams are becoming more common and that test engineering is growing as a recognized field of study.
2. Contents
Testing team models
Potential issues in each models
Trend in the community
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3. Testing team models attempted
Just-in-time: Assemble a team when required
Entry to organization as test engineer
Policy driven: Must play a role as test engineer to grow
Testing team and development team under one delivery manager
Independent testing team
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4. Just-in-time model
Organization believes
Investing in testing effort worth only when
code is ready
Development engineer knowledge of design
and code helps in better testing
Anyone can do testing
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5. Entry as test engineer
Organization believes
Take new engineer and train them on testing
Assuring them career path later as
development engineer brings stability
Focus on test engineering training required
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6. Policy driven model
Organization believes
Every one must play role in testing team to
grow
Focus on test engineering training required
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7. Testing & Development team under one manager
Organization believes
One point control helps
Focus on test engineering training required
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8. Independent testing team
Organization believes
Testing team consolidated reports to Test
Manager will help
Organization test process evolves
Focus on test engineering training required
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9. Potential issues observed
Model Potential issues
Just-in-time model Core testing skills are missing in the
organization
Normally conformance oriented testing takes
place (no negative testing). Find more bugs
attitude will be missing
Insufficient test cases results in more field bugs
Developer spends more time in debugging not
so critical issues than finding more critical issues
Test engineers need to build separate skill sets
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10. Potential issues observed
Model Potential issues
Enter into organization as test Stability is a concern. More people leave after
engineer short stay in the organization
Fully trained test engineer who is performing
well will demand for his/her movement as per
policy
Will be treated as fresh to the new role when it
comes to critical decision point like promotion,
giving on-site project etc.
Losing a well-trained test engineer from project!
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11. Potential issues observed
Model Potential issues
Policy driven: Playing a role in Attrition rate high. They may wish to have
testing is a must to grow options to continue their career in the same line
with promotions
Performance dips due to new skills required
Promotion may get delayed than the
expectations of an individual
Performance may drop with role change
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12. Potential issues observed
Model Potential issues
Testing and Development team Conflicting views from team leads may result in
reporting to one Manager wrong decisions
Attrition rate high in testing team if they sense
testing process is not effective
Goals of each levels of testing will not be met
Test process improvement in the organization
across project may not happen. Test process
improvement is local to a project
Equal respect to both team views is the key for success
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13. Potential issues observed
Model Potential issues
Independent testing team Infrastructure investment looks high
Resistance to sharing resources like server, tools
are high
Management may get tempted to switch over
to testing & development team under one
manager model which may result in attrition
rate going up
Cost of test lab goes up, test engineers see career path
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14. Trend in the community
Independent testing team model picking up
Testing as services looked as good option
Organization test process maturity evolved
Scientific method for testing looked as
opportunity for research area
Test engineering became elective subjects in
universities
Certificates in testing became popular trend
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