So, I’ve been flexing my mindmap skills using Xmind to try & map my learning in order to complement my blog posts.
My driving goal at the beginning of this learning journey was to become a better tester. I said when I started this blog I would define what ‘better’ actually means.
Well, this process of defining ‘better’ is still ongoing & unfortunately (or fortunately?), the more I think about it the harder it is to define.
I kinda knew at the beginning that the goal of becoming a better tester would be a never ending journey which will never have an completion date. What I didn’t consider was the width of my learning in trying to reach my goal.
I think this was evident by my original goals of achieving the Sun Certified Java Programmer & ISTQB Advanced Test Analyst certifications. (I’ve also created a Liverpool meetup via Software Testing Club - details to be finalised)
I started creating a mindmap titled “How can I become a better tester” on which I was laying down my learning. It still didn’t help to define ‘better’.
Whilst working on it, Kevin Rutherford suggested I define the word ‘better’ at which point I just grinned and said that is what I trying to achieve, but struggling to do so.
He then went onto suggest that I assess what value I bring to my Customer as a Tester (currently Trader Media & car dealers using Autotrader).
Here is my first stab at trying to determine what value I provide to my customers :
This is v1.0 - there’s more I can add to it & I hope to do so as time progresses. I also believe the structure will change as I realise different relationships between the nodes & subtopics.
Resources:
http://steveo1967.blogspot.com/2010/01/why-testers-do-not-add-value-to.html
http://software-testing-zone.blogspot.com/2008/10/software-testing-add-value-to-project.html
http://technologyandleadership.com/how-can-testers-influence-design-choices/
http://www.satisfice.com/blog/archives/572
http://www.developsense.com/blog/2011/03/more-of-what-testers-find/