Diversity is important for testing, prejudice isn’t

I want the field of testing to have high diversity

• Different personality types:
  • we need people to get ideas, and people to finish them
  • We need people to see the strategic view, and people to get into the details
• Different backgrounds
  • We need people that can code
  • We need people that understand the business domain
• Different business domains
  • We need testers in the field of software development
  • We need testers in the field of IT / ITIL service delivery
  • We need device testers, embedded software testers….
  • We need testers that understand the GxP regulations
  • We need testers that understand rapid and agile delivery
• Different people
  • Parents, singles, people with kids and without
  • Young people, experienced people
  • People who take it as a lifestyle, and people to whom it’s just a job

…most of all people. People who knows that things can be done in many ways. Let’s get rid of the prejudices that testing is for the detailed and i-dotting only. Testing is about bringing information to the stakeholders about what works and what doesn’t – it’s never about “failure is not an option”.

Recently I was required to do a Cubiks Problem solving test. It’s a 12 minute online test in word patterns, calculations and geometric patterns. Apparently I “failed” to complete all in time, but had a high degree of right answers, so my score was “average” #whatever. That apparently made me perfect to the testing area… OH NO – it only tells you that I put pride in my own work. Everything else is pure speculation and prejudice, as mentioned by Gerry Weinberg in Psychology of Intelligent Problem Solving there is a challenge with these kinds of tests for problem solving – they test, but not for problem solving.

Testing is about solving problems – business problems. Like can we ship?

See also:

• More Diversity in testing
• Being different is key
• The Build-A-Tester Workshop
• HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN SOFTWARE TESTING?
• Diversity in software testing webinar
• What’s the Most Common Career path for Testers?
• More than connecting the dots