Many years ago I took a management class. One of the exercises we did was on achieving consensus. My group did not reach an agreement because I wouldn't lower my standards. I wanted to discuss the … [Read more...] about How Not to Standardize Testing (ISO 29119)
Certification
Stuart Reid’s Bizarre Plea
Stuart Reid is planning to do a talk on how we should use "evidence" in our debates about what works and doesn't work in testing. A funny thing about that is Stuart once spent 30 minutes trying to … [Read more...] about Stuart Reid’s Bizarre Plea
The Drunken Gold Rush
This comes from an ISTQB advertisement they spammed me with, today: "To ensure the quality of any software system, testers and QA professionals must thoroughly test the product. But how do you know … [Read more...] about The Drunken Gold Rush
G2 Test Labs: Cry “Certification!”
A salesman from G2 Test Labs just called me. He said he was from India. He wanted to know if my testing company needed to partner with an offshore lab like his. I'm writing this now, while the memory … [Read more...] about G2 Test Labs: Cry “Certification!”
Pradeep Pulls The Tail of the ISTQB
Pradeep Soundararajan got threatened with lawyers when he criticized Testing Experience magazine for being under the thumb of the ISTQB (for those who don't yet know, the ISTQB are the guys who want … [Read more...] about Pradeep Pulls The Tail of the ISTQB
A View From Inside ISTQB/ISEB
Alan Richardson writes this commentary from inside one of the stupidest of the certification programs: the ISTQB (well, he says "ISEB", but by all accounts, it's being taken over by ISTQB … [Read more...] about A View From Inside ISTQB/ISEB
Confused Methodology Talk #1
This posting by Corey Goldberg illustrates an interesting and all too common kind of confusion people get into when discussing methods and practices. It's worth pondering. On SQAForums, someone … [Read more...] about Confused Methodology Talk #1
Francis Bacon’s New Organon
It would be an unsound fancy and self-contradictory to expect that things which have never yet been done can be done except by means which have never yet been tried. This reminds me of that … [Read more...] about Francis Bacon’s New Organon
How to Ask (and Not Ask) for Free Consulting
Strangers contact me on a regular basis, asking questions about testing. I don't mind answering questions. In fact, until the day I get paid for answering questions, it will remain one of my favorite … [Read more...] about How to Ask (and Not Ask) for Free Consulting
Against Certification
What follows is a somewhat grumpy argument against tester certification programs. I have mixed feelings about writing this, because I know a lot of otherwise friendly people who are involved in … [Read more...] about Against Certification