Richard Paterson

SAS Institute

Description

Software testing as a field is arguably still finding its feet, and often struggles to find its voice. There are many experienced testers in the world who could add much to the understanding and progression of our field, but who don’t realise the value of telling their story.

We need to lower the – largely psychological – barriers to people engaging with the wider testing community, and harness the potential of the hidden army of testers. We need to challenge and support people in talking about their experiences and what they’ve learned.

It might not be paradigm-altering but it might be, and is worth the risk. Even if it someone doesn’t push the testing envelope with their talk, how they choose to express an existing idea might be all that’s needed to spark off the next big idea.

My talk will also address the factors that have underpinned my own reticence in this area, the roots of uncertainty about our field, and how I’ve come to realise the value that I and every tester can – and should – add to the field.

Key Takeaways:

1. Feeling emboldened and confident about speaking out more about what they do, either within their team, or their company, or hopefully to the wider test community.
2. That you don’t need to be a thirty or twenty or even ten year testing veteran to have earned the right to talk about your experiences.
3. That your thoughts and ideas about testing might trigger, or be, the next great leap forward in testing.