The role of a software tester in an IT industry is an extremely important one. Why so? Because he is the one who ensures that quality is engrained into a product and that it is defect free before being released out into the market. He knows he will be in a precarious situation if his cleared project fails due to any reason. It will not only bring a bad name to him but eventually to the brand and the company itself. Not to mention financial and reputational damage. So is his job an easy one? Certainly not.
- And to make things worse, a tester is not well liked person in the organization especially by the developers. The reason being that he pinpoints the errors and defects in a developed software that doesn’t come as good news to the programmers. But what they don’t seem to understand is that it is the very nature of their job. What else are they being hired for.
- The discussion can go and on because this battle between the two has been taking rounds since decades. Giving tight deadlines to the testers’ right at the end of the project leaves a bad taste in the mouth of the tester and maybe that is the reason that he is unable to convey detected bugs to the developers in a polite manner. He just starts bombarding them with words for not doing their job right.
- This can be avoided if the testers are involved right from the onset of the project so that their input can help there and then. Rushing them to do things at the last minute leaves them in a jittery position which most of them can’t handle well. The testers should also be kept in the loop at all times. They should be informed of any changes in requirements timely to avoid any anger coming from their side.
- Testing requires the testers to find faults in the developed software at every level so that it does not fail when in the hands of the clients. In order to achieve this they need to closely work together with the developers and programmers to understand the true nature of the software. Once that is comprehended they need to determine the right kind of tests to be carried out for e.g. exploratory testing, functional testing, performance testing etc. and if the tester does not find any errors then he should also have the decency to praise the developer for his work.
- Communication is the most important tool in building successful relationships in a company and adds to your work ethic. Testers should communicate with their team at all points so as to avoid any misunderstandings. Regular meetings with the team lead, developers and the clients can make a major difference and can add value to your business.
As mentioned earlier, the job of a software tester is not an easy one but it certainly can be made easy if he chooses to collaborate with the development team at all levels, voicing his thoughts and communicating with them in a productive manner so that both realize their aim is the same: to add value to business by keeping the clients happy and satisfied.
