1.5.Essential Skills and Good Practices in Testing

Question 1

What is skill in the context of testing?

Answer 1

Skill is the ability to do something well that comes from knowledge, practice, and aptitude.

Question 2

What are some essential generic skills required for testers?

Answer 2

Testing knowledge, thoroughness, curiosity, attention to details, good communication, analytical thinking, critical thinking, creativity, technical knowledge, and domain knowledge.

Question 3

Why are communication skills crucial for testers?

Answer 3

Because testers often have to communicate bad news (e.g., defects), which can be perceived as criticism of the product and its author.

Question 4

What approach from Extreme Programming emphasizes the importance of teamwork in testing?

Answer 4

The whole-team approach, where any team member can perform any task and everyone is responsible for quality.

Question 5

What are the benefits of the whole-team approach in testing?

Answer 5

Improves team dynamics, enhances communication and collaboration, and creates synergy by leveraging various skill sets for the project’s benefit.

Question 6

In what situations might a high level of test independence be required?

Answer 6

In safety-critical situations.

Question 7

How does a certain degree of independence in testing benefit defect detection?

Answer 7

Independent testers can find different kinds of failures and defects compared to developers due to their different backgrounds, perspectives, and biases.

Question 8

What are the different levels of test independence?

Answer 8

1. No independence (author tests their own work)
2. Some independence (peers from the same team)
3. High independence (testers from outside the author’s team but within the organization)
4. Very high independence (testers from outside the organization)

Question 9

What are the potential drawbacks of having independent testers?

Answer 9

Lack of collaboration, communication problems, adversarial relationships with the development team, developers losing a sense of responsibility for quality, and independent testers being seen as a bottleneck.

Question 10

What is the impact of confirmation bias on testing?

Answer 10

It can make it difficult for some people to accept information that disagrees with their currently held beliefs, making communication skills crucial for testers to convey information constructively.

Question 10

Why is it beneficial for testers to work closely with other team members?

Answer 10

To ensure desired quality levels are achieved, to help create suitable acceptance tests, and to agree on test strategies and automation approaches.