The Human Side of Testing

Software testing is a unique profession. We're engaged in critiquing highly complex systems that typically are poorly understood-even by those developing them-and usually forged in an environment of high stakes, enormous pressure, and competing priorities. Every day we deal with delicate egos, defensive reactions, shrinking timeframes, and diminishing resources, all within the context of an uncertain world economic situation. Join Thomas McCoy as he takes a sometimes-irreverent look at the human issues that beleaguer our profession. Learn about our socio-political context, the “fear factor” within many IT projects, the blame game, rewards and punishments, impression management, keeping our energy level and optimism high, identifying whom we are really serving, the testing vocation, and having our contributions valued. In this lively presentation, Thomas examines how we can best carry out our role without forever being cast as the software project's "Cassandra" who prophesies correctly but is never believed.