“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”George Bernard Shaw
As someone who regularly references “thought leaders” in our industry and quotes papers, presentations, and blogs about software testing published in the public view, I generally don’t have a problem with calling things as you see them. I also don’t believe you need to write your slides defensively or worry about misinterpretation to the point of obscuring your message, but if you are going to call someone out by name, you will (and should) be held to a higher standard of communication.
So excited for this workshop at KWSQA this year with my buddy Martin Hynie – register HERE
Martin Hynie and Keith Klain- Part 1: Talking About Testing; Part 2: STOP TALKING ABOUT TESTING!!!
Why is it so hard to talk about testing?
It feels like such a struggle every time we try to move the conversation beyond metrics, test coverage, tools and checklists… and yet management still does not get what we are doing and walks away shaking their head. The information created by skilled testing should be of immense value… how can it be so hard to describe our work? This can’t be that hard, can it? Surely it must be them… or… can it possibly be that we are the problem? Continue reading …
Very excited to be a part of Agile Testing Days this year in Germany! See you there!
Lessons Learned in (Selling) Software Testing
In 2013, Keith Klain quit his job as Head of the Global Test Center at Barclays Investment Bank to start a test consulting business based on context-driven and agile testing principles. Since then, Keith has been wading through industry dogma, pitching new ideas about testing to clients, hiring—and firing—testers, and trying to turn context-driven testing into a viable commercial approach. Succeeding in such a setting requires a balance of practical approaches that can driving improvements against “sunk cost” bias and decades of bad behavior by some test vendors and internal test departments. Keith’s successes and failures have validated the lessons he learned during his twenty-year software testing career and have taught him some new lessons he wasn’t expecting. Join Keith as he shares what has and hasn’t worked when talking to stakeholders about what they need vs. what they want, applying context-driven testing principles on projects that haven’t had any principles, and dealing with test case allergies and the “smarty pants syndrome.” Take back new insights in how to get things done without compromising your integrity.
EDISON, NJ – Tekmark Global Solutions, one of the largest privately held providers of information technology, communications, and consulting services to companies worldwide, today announced that Keith Klain has joined the company to lead Tekmark’s Software Quality Management practice.
Keith Klain kicked off STAREAST 2016 last week, and there was one line in his keynote that stuck with me throughout the entire conference: “If you can’t draw a straight line between your business objectives and your test approach, you’re doing it wrong.”
As I started to think of all of the little activities that make up part of my workday that do nothing to increase the happiness of Skytap’s customers or reaching our business objectives, Klain’s statement sent me into a bit of a panic.
More info 
