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  • Why Should There Be A Role For A Software Tester In All Businesses?

    As more and more of the world becomes embedded within digital technology, the demand for software testers is rising exponentially. Software plays a far bigger role in businesses today than it did a few years ago, and organisations of all shapes and sizes depend on software to survive.
    Software and applications have improved standards, processes and business prospects across almost every sector. This increase in the use of software amongst businesses and everyday lives means there is more demand than ever for software professionals. Most businesses today require software that runs smoothly and is fail-proof in order for them to succeed.
    This means that every business can benefit from having a software tester as part of their team.

    All Businesses Are At Risk Of Software Failures

    Software failure can cause irrecoverable damage to a business. Thousands of businesses have fallen foul to poor software design in recent years, and it isn’t just inconvenient but also expensive. In 2018, it was reported that businesses all across the UK lost an enormous $2.84 trillion because of poor software quality.
    A company experiencing software issues can have a real detrimental impact on its customers and reputation as well. It is not uncommon to hear stories of large enterprises being struck by a software glitch and making headline news. Major businesses including British Airways, O2 network, Facebook and more have all fallen foul to software problems in recent years.
    All this simply shows the importance that high-quality software has on all kinds of businesses.

    The Importance Of Software Testing

    Software testing is the process of carefully analysing and evaluating applications as they are developed in order to meet specific requirements. This process is continuous and ongoing and works alongside the software development life cycle. At every phase of development and testing, the functionality and quality of the software are verified to ensure it meets requirements.
    Software testing is not only vital for creating software that works efficiently and is bug-free, but it is also crucial for improving functionality and usability. There are many different types, techniques and methods of testing software. A software tester is someone who is trained and experienced in this field.
    Adequately testing software is so vital for businesses of all shapes and sizes. It ensures that an application is of the highest quality and will satisfy a user’s requirements. Not only that, but software testing can lead to improved business optimisation and therefore lower maintenance costs.
    Software that has been thoroughly tested will be more reliable and offer an improved user experience for customers. Whilst investing in software testers for all businesses might seem expensive, it can help a company reduce costs and improve revenue in the long term.
    When it comes to software, most businesses only think of the developers and designers, but testing plays a vital role in the process. Development processes follow a software development life cycle, and the software testing stage is right behind the development stage. It is there to verify and validate the latest developments. This continuous process of validation and verification helps to deliver high-quality products.
    At every stage of the cycle, the software will be checked for performance and efficiency. This helps to make sure that a software application closely aligns with both the business and technical parameters.

    Why Every Business Needs A Software Tester

    Now we have looked at the importance of software testing overall; it is important to understand why each individual business should have a software testing role. Here are just a few benefits to businesses:

    Save Money

    One of the biggest benefits of having a software tester within a business is cost-effectiveness. When bugs in a piece of software are caught in the early stages, fixing them is a much easier and cheaper job. Having a tester on hand to evaluate every stage of a project might seem like overkill, but in the long run, it can be very worthwhile.
    A software tester is there to resolve all bugs. This is before they have the chance to become bigger, more expensive issues.

    Increased Security

    Security is of the utmost importance to all business, especially where user data is involved. Faulty or poorly designed software is often the most significant security risk for a company of any size. It leaves businesses open to hackers and viruses, all of which you can avoid with proper software testing.
    Testing software ensures that users are getting a product they can trust, where they know data is safe. Furthermore, it provides peace of mind that the software avoids any vulnerabilities and risks.

    Improved Quality

    The purpose of software is to bring value to users, whether those users are employees or customers. When software doesn’t work as intended or is riddled with bugs, it isn’t going to provide a positive experience.
    Software testing can improve the quality of business software and look at common pitfalls such as device compatibility.

    Software Tester Training And Development

    Testing software covers a huge range of models, methods and ideologies. It requires dedicated training and ongoing learning in order to master the trade. Becoming a software tester is worthwhile, especially as more and more business realise their value to a team.
    Whether you are already an experienced software tester looking to take the next step in their career, or you are new to the software testing world but want to get it stuck, we are here to help.
    At TSG Training, we have a range of software testing courses to meet all abilities. Our courses can be learnt online only or as virtual or classroom learning, so you can choose a learning method that suits you. Our ISTQB Software Testing Foundation Course is perfect for beginners or anyone who needs to be able to demonstrate their existing software testing knowledge.
    We also have a collection of more advanced courses, including Test Techniques – Advanced Level, which offers practical guidance on the application of advanced test case techniques. If you aren’t sure which course is for you, or just want to learn more about our various subjects, you can choose from our range of free webinars. Our Software Testing Workshop webinar is taking place on 12th October 2020.

  • Women In Software Engineering

    The technology industry, and software engineering, in particular, is a fast-paced and highly competitive world. Everything we do these days is based around software in one way or another, and the demand for software engineers is ever-growing.
    Despite this increase in demand, the software industry is still very male-dominated. Women in software engineering are few and far between, and there is a long-standing stereotype that tech jobs are for men. Unfortunately, the industry often overlooks the successes of females in the field, and many have to work harder than their male counterparts to get to where they want to be.

    Why Is Software Engineering A Male-Dominated Industry?

    One of the biggest barriers for women getting into software engineering is simply that they don’t know they can. Many women are unaware that a career in software development is an option for them. This is because many individuals perceive it as an industry for men. It can be a difficult world to break into as a woman. However, it is one that is very rewarding and worthwhile.
    Stanford’s Computer Science department conducted research on why women don’t pursue studies in Computer Science. They found that a lack of role models was a key reason. There is a distinct lack of visibility for successful female developers. This is despite there being many females that have had a significant impact on the industry. Some notable female software engineers in recent times include;

    • Linda Liukas: Co-founded Rails Girls, a community to help make technology more approachable to women.
    • Gwen Barzey: One of the very first programmers in Canada, and her story is an inspiration to women in the industry.
    • Sandi Metz: A successful speaker and author with a passion for ‘advancing the craft of programming’.

    Why We Need More Women In Software Engineering

    We all know that women can often face additional challenges to men in the workplace. Many have to sacrifice careers in order to take care of a family. Furthermore, there are far more opinions on what a woman should wear or how she should behave.
    However, women are breaking out of these stereotypes and notions, particularly within the software industry. The software engineering world is beginning to see an upsurge in female software developers, and they are doing great things. Any woman who is enthusiastic and has a knack for technology has the potential to become an excellent software engineer.
    Software engineers of any gender are in huge demand at the moment, with software developers expecting to see a 13% employment growth over the next four years. This is driven by a current shortage of technology talent, and an increased usage in computers in all aspects of our daily lives.
    Because of the high demand for software engineers, salaries for these roles are at an all-time high, for both men and women. Whilst there are still some concerns over the gender pay gap in the industry, it shouldn’t put women off heading for a career in software engineering. The more women take on these roles, the more chance they have of getting the gender pay gap eliminated.
     
    It is a common misconception that men make better software engineers than women. While an individual’s gender shouldn’t make any difference to their ability to code and create software, studies have actually shown that women are often better for the job. The study looked at pull requests placed on GitHub and revealed that codes written by women have an approval rate of 78.6%, compared with men at 74.6%.

    Women In Software Engineering

    As we discussed previously, the software engineering industry often lacks role models for women. This isn’t because there aren’t any notable software engineers and developers around, but because they are often unheard of. In addition to the three ladies we already mentioned, there are many more inspirational women in the industry;

    • Julia Liuson: Julia is probably one of the most well-known women in software development. Those who frequently use C# or VB.NET have her to thank for improved productivity. Notably, Julia’s biggest contribution to software engineering is Visual Studio which is used often by Windows application developers.
    • Marissa Mayer: Marissa is former CEO of Yahoo!, and while the company haven’t had the best reputation recently, her contributions shouldn’t be downplayed. She started at Yahoo! as a developer and was promoted to CEO in 2013, which is a huge accomplishment in itself. Not only that but Marissa was the first female engineer for Google and was the driving force behind big projects including Gmail, Google Maps and Google Earth.
    • Natalia Burina: Natalia’s career over the last 15 years has been filled with many achievements in software engineering. She has a degree from the University of Washington in math and computer science and has worked for big companies including Facebook, Microsoft and eBay.

    Developing A Career In Software Engineering

    If you want to follow in the footsteps of these inspirational women and pursue a career in software engineering, you can do so with TSG Training. We offer a range of software engineering and development courses to kickstart or further your career in the industry.
    Our PHP Programming & MySQL for Web Development course is a 5-day course that provides the knowledge to work with PHP scripts, MYSQL database system and HTML. It is perfect for those looking to create web-based systems and UNIX and Windows users.
    Another popular course is Ruby Programming & Ruby on Rails. This gives learners the knowledge to develop and maintain Ruby scripts and Rails-based projects. The 5-day course is ideal for anyone who needs to maintain and write scripts in Ruby.
    Not only do we offer a huge collection of online and offline courses, but we also have a range of free webinars. These cover popular topics and can provide useful insights into a course. ISTQB Advanced Technical Test Analyst webinar explains why the course is relevant and who it is for. For more information on our courses and webinars, and to discuss your learning needs, get in touch with our team today.

  • The Skills Gap In The Software Testing Industry Of The UK

    Software testing and development is a dynamic field. The role is continually changing to keep up with how software is used. This means that a multi-dimensional skill gap has emerged. Companies don’t have enough employees with the right skills, and many test engineers no longer have all the skills needed to fulfil their role.

    The Reality For Technology Companies

    Hunting for employees with the right skills is getting harder. Over half of employers have reported that candidates don’t have the required technical skills.
    Software testing is not the same as it was five years ago. This dynamic field has had to shift as technology changes. There has been a massive and consistent push towards automation in much software design. This means that traditional manual testing methods are no longer sufficient. The top skill that is looked for, along with testing methodology, is now test automation closely followed by Agile software development.
    Companies from many different industries are facing the reality of not having staff with the skills they need. 70% of employers within the technology sector are now anticipating that they will have staffing shortages. The finance sector has been leading the hunt for test engineers, but there is high demand in various industries, including retail, marketing, gaming, and publishing.

    The Opportunities For Motivated Workers

    With such demand for software test engineers with the right skill sets, salaries have been rising. The median wage in 2010 was around £30,000. It’s now at £40,000. This makes it a great time to break into this career path.
    If you already have experience in the sector but lack some of the more recent skills, such as working with automated software development, then you are ideally placed. Employers need staff with experience. If you are willing to undertake training in this new area, then you will become highly sought after talent.
    Many employers realise that they need to hire workers who have the skills and aptitudes to be great test engineers, even if they don’t yet have all the certifications. If you are looking to start or restart a career as a test engineer, then undertaking some training is a substantial investment. It is a way to show your willingness to improve and grow.

    Training Based On Experience

    We have developed five roadmaps to help anyone find the right training to suit them as they look to develop their abilities as test engineers. We designed these routes along with an industrial partner and ensured that all the outcomes map to SFIA, Industry-accepted core principles, competencies, and roles.
    Each of our roadmaps has a combination of developmental and certified courses. So, you will reach the other side with a broad skill set, as well as a recognised certification.

    Less Than Two Years Experience/Completly New To Testing

    Our test engineer stream is designed with a few different types of people in mind.
    The whole set of courses can form part of an apprenticeship. So if you complete it through a company, it will be 90% funded by the government. This makes it an ideal starting point for anyone entering the sector.
    This route is also suited to anyone who has some software experience but is new to testing. You can select the components that you need to fill in the gaps in your knowledge. The same is true for anyone who has a small amount of experience but needs formal training.
    On this stream, most people will start with Introduction to Test Engineering. This course provides a full grounding in the fundamental principles of testing and gives you experience at designing tests for given requirements.
    By following our suggested training courses, you will gain accredited certifications from ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualification Board). These will cover foundational skills, mobile app testing, Agile extension training, and advanced test analysis.

    Between 2 – 4 Years Experience

    We have two roadmaps that will be suitable for people with this level of experience. We have a Senior Test Engineer route and a Lead Test Engineer route.
    The Senior Engineer route will allow you to develop your specialised skillsets. Some of the skills on offer include Advanced Agile Testing, Agile Scrum, AI, Automated Testing, and Performance Testing.
    We also offer some introductory leadership training at this point. This allows you to start paving the way for your future career advancement.
    The Lead Test Engineer pathway allows you to specialise further and focus your skills. This route is for people who already have extensive testing experience. This is an excellent chance to develop some skills in security testing. This is a much sought after skill set. Taking this route can open up many opportunities if it’s something you are interested in.

    5 Year Or More Experience And Moving Into A Leadership Role

    For test engineers with lots of experience, we have two final routes. These are Test Architects and Consultants and Test Experts.
    Both of these routes offer training that will allow you to reach the top of your career. Completion of these training paths will give you the tools to take the lead in designing solutions and leading business-critical programmes. These are ideal for anyone who is looking to move into a consultancy role. Or is keen to drive change and improvements across a company.

    Benefits Of Software Testing Training Courses With TSG Training

    At TSG Training, we understand the changing demands of this industry and regularly refresh and update our course content to suit the dynamic nature of software testing. Our tutors are dedicated, experienced and supportive to help you achieve your best results.
    With our training courses, you get everything you need. This includes learning materials and access to tutors. Exams for certified courses are included, and you can have the opportunity to retake exams as required.
    We deliver courses to suit your needs. Furthermore, we have a range of learning methods to take advantage of. You can learn through traditional classrooms, virtual classrooms, online learning courses, and accelerated courses as well. We are confident that we can provide you with all the tools you need to jumpstart a successful career as a Test Engineer.

  • The Experiences of a Trainer Delivering Virtual Classroom Learning to Distributed Students

     
    1 Where, How And Why Virtual Classroom Delivery Began
    Mid-March 2020: I’m on the way into the office to deliver the second day of a four-day classroom course; the coronavirus pandemic is upon us. On the previous evening, I read that the UK government has advised people to work from home if possible, but there’s no talk of a formal lockdown yet.
    As I approach the Tube station, I get an email from one of my students who has decided to follow government advice and not travel into London. He is prepared to self-study from his course materials if necessary, but asks me “is there any way I can join in using either Webex or Skype?”
    Its 8:10 am, I’m 20 minutes away from the office, and the course starts at 9:00.
    2 Welcome To The New World – Virtual Training Delivery!
    I have no time to build the ideal remote learning package with custom-built polling and quiz features to keep students engaged that I’ve used in the past. In fact, we don’t have a dedicated remote learning platform with these kinds of functions or virtual training rooms to allow group exercises/discussions to take place.
    What I have got are the PowerPoint slides and the knowledge that my remote student has a copy of the same physical course materials as my other students. I have an active Skype account which will allow me to screen share, plus my personal experience as a trainer.
    So, I ask myself “Is it doable?” and after a few minutes of reflection, I decide: “let’s find out!”.
    The problems I had to overcome (in my mind) were primarily:
    1. Maintaining student engagement and getting feedback from students that I can’t see (watching body language is essential when classroom teaching)
    2. Managing the pacing of the course to include additional breaks (I know staring at a computer screen for extended periods of time is extremely tiring)
    3. Replicating my personal teaching style (I’m a big whiteboard fan, and I like to draw out examples and show how to solve problems in real-time)
    4. Facilitating set-exercises, especially group exercises when not everyone is in the same room
    5. Hoping the technology would hold up (especially network bandwidth).
    2.1 How did it go?
    With some creative thinking and the willingness of my students (both remote and in the classroom) to participate and be flexible, we found a way to make the virtual learning work.
    I was surprised how many of these problems I was able to overcome, by exploiting screen sharing facilities and by encouraging the participants to ask questions (this is where an effective audio connection is essential).
    An important change was that the pace of delivery had to now accommodate a more brokered style of discussion as group conversations are challenging to manage with remote participants. This is because you can’t see your fellow participants’ body language, it’s easy to talk over each other unintentionally, and this is exacerbated when some participants are in the same room, and others are not.
    The second and third day of the course were delivered using this joint virtual and face-to-face format successfully, but rumours of a lockdown were increasing at this stage; so, we agreed to run the last day of the course as an entirely virtual delivery.
    In some respects, this was more effective as we were all in the same situation re; body language and non-verbal cues. We got through the course successfully, and all the participants were satisfied that the delivery had gone well, which was a positive result.
    2.2 What happened next?
    It is now May 2020, and to date, I have delivered seven virtual courses successfully. Some things have changed: we’re using GoToMeeting rather than Skype, we’re using 100% digital course materials which we distribute to participants in advance, and we’re learning all the time on ways to make the training experience as positive for the participants as possible.
    In respect of my initial concerns, here’s what I have learned so far (this includes what the participants have fed back to me in discussions at the end of each course):
    2.3 Maintaining student engagement and getting feedback
    Not being able to see the students as you are presenting to makes delivery harder, as those visual and non-verbal cues that we look for (often using our peripheral senses) are not available. Network bandwidth limitations make webcam sharing impractical. When it is available, it tends to be more of a distraction both for trainer/facilitator and the students – how many times have you ended looking at what’s going on in the background of your fellow participants during a video conference?
    I have found that real-time audio is the most critical tool to maintain engagement. By asking questions and waiting for answers (sometimes using silence is a powerful tool), we can get feedback and keep students engaged.
    2.4 Managing the pacing of the course to include additional breaks
    The pacing of the course has to change. I use shorter, but more frequent breaks to allow participants a chance to get away from the screen. Allowing participants to interrupt the flow of delivery helps with feedback and engagement but consumes time.
    As such, it is important to anticipate that we won’t necessarily cover the same amount of material in a given time frame as we would achieve following a standard classroom timetable. Plus, we have to take into consideration that our participants are learning from home and are often juggling other things, and so we need to be flexible.
    So far the causes for additional “ad hoc” breaks have included: responding to the doorbell (unexpected delivery – forgot about that swipe to buy moment); the next-door neighbour mowing the lawn outside the window (nice gesture – but could you please do it tomorrow); anything to do with children (4-year-old didn’t understand why his 8-year-old sister didn’t want to play with him anymore) and misbehaving pets.
    2.5 Replicating my personal teaching style
    This actually proved to be a ‘non-problem’. Once I got hold of a digitising tablet and stylus, I found I was able to create ‘virtual whiteboards’ to write on and respond to questions, ad-lib practical examples, and generally mark-up whatever I can share on a screen in order to get the message across.
    One of the useful features of the tools that are available in the virtual environment is that students are able to screen-grab anything from lectures and discussion without having to make extensive handwritten notes.
    2.6 Facilitating set-exercises, especially group exercises
    This is the biggest challenge, and to be honest, they can’t always be fully replicated in the virtual learning environment; especially for collaborative tasks, as the group dynamic is significantly different from the classroom.
    This is the area where lateral thinking can help, and exercises need to be creatively refactored. In some situations, I have found that getting participants to share their screens with the class (but only voluntarily) can be used to replicate some aspects of group working exercises.
    2.7 Hoping the technology would hold up
    The delivery platform we’ve been using has proven to be robust, but strong network connectivity and adequate bandwidth are essential. The two-way audio conversations are a necessary aspect of the course. Even if we’ve got this sorted out at our end, there can always be potential problems at the other participant’s end. As a result, we always provide a dial-in option for students whose VOIP is being problematic.
    3 Other Things That I Have Learned
    3.1 People are amazing
    Every participant has shown a willingness to adapt, to bear with the niggles when the technology (or to be honest – usually the operator) hasn’t gone as smoothly as I’d like. They’ve shown great humour and have generally been supportive and flexible as we’ve all learned a new way of working together at such a stressful and uncertain time.
    3.2 The training room doesn’t look like it used to
    It’s weird sitting at my dining table with a set of monitors, headset and all the other paraphernalia (I’m used to training standing up – with a great big whiteboard and screen behind me). It’s not at all corporate and coffee breaks are a bit different (there’s a whole fridge to raid, plus cakes). The commute is a lot shorter, and the dress code is “flexible”.
    3.3 Our house is a lot quieter, for longer periods
    My wife has developed a “silent routine” which is in operation between 8:45 and 17:00 every day when the dining room is “on-air”. We live in a bungalow, so there’s nowhere to go except the bedroom, kitchen (that’s why there are all these cakes) and the garden. The radio, TV and landline phone are switched off, so I have got to acknowledge the support I get from her – thanks, Jo.
    It’s a similar challenge for all those participants who have to find a space in which they can focus and concentrate. On reflection, I think I should say thanks to all their partners, families and co-habitants who’ve had to creep around the home while I’m blathering on about whatever it is I blather on about.
    4 Finally
    Most participants have said that if they had a choice, their preference would be for classroom learning; but that the virtual classes have been an effective and positive experience. This I totally understand, face-to-face will always be my preferred way of communicating and teaching. However, the margin of difference between face-to-face and virtual teaching is now much smaller than I’d have expected. I am learning almost as much as my students as we go through this experience.
    I have been very pleasantly surprised about what we can now do with collaborative tools and look forward to evolving my teaching style and techniques. Now, let’s see what next week has to offer.

  • The History Of Agile Testing

    Agile testing has been around for many years and is now a very well-known methodology when it comes to software development. A huge number of development teams have adopted Agile testing in recent years, particularly those teams with a focus on continuous delivery.
    Agile testing generally involves high-level flexibility and collaboration between teams, as well as an iterative environment where requirements can change along with the needs of the project. If you’re new to the concept of Agile, courses such as our Introduction to Agile Testing focus on the basics of Agile and how it can help development teams work to faster delivery times.
    Whilst Agile is a popular approach; not many people are aware of how it came about. Understanding the history of Agile can help to better understand the methodology behind it, which is why we are exploring how it all began.

    The Software Development Crisis

    Back in the early 90s, computing was on the rise and software development faced some real challenges. Known during the time as the ‘application delivery lag’ or ‘application development crisis’, it was estimated that for an application to be produced it would take roughly three years from the business need actually being presented.
    The big issue that developers had was that businesses and their requirements were moving faster than they could. In the three years that it would take to develop an application, the systems, requirements and businesses would change completely.
    Many development projects were cancelled partway through, and those that were completed often didn’t meet the businesses current requirements. In some industries, this lag time was much more than the three-year average. Aerospace and defence companies could have to wait decades for a complex system to be developed. For example, the Space Shuttle program, which was launched for use in 1982, was created using processing technologies and information from the 1960s.

    Frustration Among Leaders

    These long lead times in development meant that many business owners and leaders were becoming increasingly frustrated. There was a growing number of engineers that knew there must be a better way to develop software in a more timely manner. This frustration lead to 17 software thought leaders joining forces to come up with ways of developing software in a simpler process.
    They met informally to discuss ideas and shared ideas of how to develop without the documentation and processes involved with waterfall and other conventional software techniques.

    The Creation Of Agile

    The software engineers meeting to discuss frustrations included Jon Kern, Ward Cunningham, Kent Beck, Arie van Bennekum, Alistair Cockburn and others which are well known today within the Agile community. In 2001, they held the famed Snowbird meeting in Utah, in which they discussed the ideas of ‘light’ and ‘lightweight’ development techniques.
    These early iterations of Agile were discussed as ways to quickly build working software in order to get it to the end-user in less time.
    A fast delivery approach to software development offered businesses a range of benefits, with the main one being that they would receive the new software faster. Another key benefit was that the development team could receive rapid feedback on the software and change its direction and scope if necessary. It was this willingness to change and deploy rapid feedback techniques that ended up being some of the key features of Agile. This method of working meant that very little of the project was set in stone at the beginning, and the development team could listen to the customer feedback to create the best possible software.

    The Agile Manifesto

    During the 2001 Snowbird meeting, the Agile Manifesto was created. Although the goals of the group were not clear, the Agile Manifesto was very succinct and clear as a purpose of the approach. This resulted in the software development community embracing the Agile Manifesto and the 12 principles that were included as the beginning of the Agile methodology.
    It is likely that many teams were using a hybrid model that included some elements of Agile and some of the traditional waterfall methods. The fact that development teams identified so wholly with the Agile ideology was a strong testament to the power of the movement.

    Beyond Agile

    The development of Agile was vital for getting software development to where it is today. It is still in use across thousands of teams, with new teams embracing it regularly. The benefits of Agile are clear, and there are many reasons why it has been so successful since being created back in 2001.
    It is important to bear in mind that Agile is not the end and can be better seen as a first step to where software development might one day end up. In the future, it is expected that Agile will eventually offer continuous, effective software changes, without the need for software releases to be a planned-for event.
    It is expected that Agile will continue evolving and embracing its own core principles and values. As software development teams and business needs change, Agile is anticipated to change with it, meaning there are likely to be several more chapters in the history of Agile that are yet to come.

    Embracing Agile Today

    For software developers, testers and managers to fully understand everything that Agile can offer a business, it is essential to have good background knowledge. As Agile is expected to continue to develop over the years, getting a good grasp on the subject today will help to keep in the loop and on the pulse of latest changes.
    Here at TSG Training, we are offering a free webinar which will cover the Agile way of thinking and the role of a Product Owner. For more in-depth training on Agile, software testers can take part in our Accelerated Learning ISTQB Foundation in Software Testing & ISTQB Agile Extension course. The 3.5-day course is an intense training option with an exam at the end to gain the foundation qualification. The BCS Systems Development Essentials Using Agile course is another option for gaining valuable knowledge on Agile and the concepts involved.
    To find out which is the right training course for you, speak to the team at TSG Training who will be happy to assist you and your specific training requirements.

  • Living With Artificial Intelligence: How Do We Get It Right?

    Artificial intelligence has been taking the world by storm in recent years. Every industry is beginning to embrace the many benefits that AI can bring, and many of us use the technology without even realising it. From home hubs and smart technology to self-driving cars; artificial intelligence is rapidly progressing. Organisations are opening up to the idea of AI and beginning to explore how it can help them grow and improve processes.
    Because of the innovative and progressive nature of AI, it is an area that hasn’t been thoroughly explored before. This means there are few regulations in place and many questions about the morality and ethics behind the technology. So, how can firms, and society as a whole, looking to adopt AI ensure they get it right?

    What Is Responsible Artificial Intelligence?

    Responsible AI is a relatively new concept which businesses are adopting in a bid to get artificial intelligence right. It is the idea that the use of AI meets a number of criteria;

    • That artificial intelligence use is ethically sound and complies with any regulations that are in place.
    • The use of artificial intelligence is backed up by robust foundations of end to end governance.
    • Artificial intelligence is supported by performance indicators that address fairness and bias, robustness and security, and interpretability and explainability.

    With so many companies beginning to use artificial intelligence to automate tasks that were once done by humans, it is vital that this is done responsibly. Everything from fraud detection to medical diagnosis can embrace AI and free up staff to focus on higher-level projects.
    Artificial intelligence offers almost unlimited potential for businesses and consumers alike, and organisations in almost every sector are beginning to embrace the technologies. As more and more AI is used every day, it is vital that it is being used responsibly and ethically.

    What Are The Dangers Of Artificial Intelligence?

    Using artificial intelligence responsibly is so important because of the potential dangers the technology can bring. It is thought to be very unlikely that AI will ever exhibit human emotions such as love and hate, and also that the technology could ever become intentionally disruptive. Even so, experts are aware of a couple of potential risks to the rise in artificial intelligence use.
    The first is that artificial intelligence is programmed to do something devastating. AI can be used to create autonomous weapons that are programmed to kill. If this technology should fall into the wrong hands, then it could lead to mass casualties. There is also a chance that this could lead to an artificial intelligence arms race or war between societies.
    It is thought that this type of technology would be designed to be almost impossible to switch off, with the risk of humans losing control completely.
    The second danger that AI can bring is that it is programmed to do something useful but develops a destructive method to reach its goals. This is a potential risk if the artificial intelligence goals are not fully aligned with our own. For example, if a self-driving car is programmed to reach a destination as quickly as possible, it might do this in a dangerous manner. The real dangers behind artificial intelligence are down to competence rather than malevolence. The way this technology is adopted and used by all has a huge impact on the risks they could present.

    What Ethical Issues Come With Artificial Intelligence?

    As well as potential dangers of artificial intelligence, there are also some ethical and moral impacts that must be considered. The top ethical issues of AI include;

    • Singularity

    One of the main reasons that humans are at the top of the food chain is our ingenuity and intelligence. We are able to use our advantages over animals that are bigger, stronger and faster than us through the use of tools to control them. This creates a serious ethical question when it comes to AI, as many question what would happen if, one day, machines have this same advantage over humans. It isn’t enough to depend on pulling the plug on these machines, as an advanced technology will likely anticipate this move and act to defend itself.

    • Unemployment

    As more and more tasks are becoming automated and handled by artificial intelligence, unemployment rates are likely to be affected. With the rise of customer service chatbots, self-driving vehicles and automated marketing tools, we could soon see many jobs become obsolete. AI tools have the ability to perform these jobs more accurately, faster and with less expense.

    • Humanity

    Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly skilled at imitating human conversation and relationships. It is becoming more and more frequent for us to interact with machines as if they are a human being. Humans are limited to the kindness and attention they can offer to another person, whereas artificial intelligence bots have unlimited resources for building meaningful relationships.

    • Robot Rights

    Artificial intelligence systems are becoming more and more complex and life-like over time. Many of these technologies use a reward and aversion system where improved performance is reinforced through the use of a virtual reward. This leads to questions about whether a machine could be considered as suffering if it is given a negative input. If machines are considered entities that can feel, act and perceive like humans, then their legal status should also be considered.

    How To Get Artificial Intelligence Right?

    With many risks and dangers to consider, it is important to also keep in mind that overall AI means improved lives for everyone. The technology has vast potential, and responsible implementation is vital. In order to safely and appropriately work with artificial intelligence, a good level of understanding of the technology is needed.
    Here at TSG Training, we offer our BSC Essentials in Artificial Intelligence course to help you understand everything you need to know about AI. The one day course covers everything from the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning, to the benefits and challenges of these projects. It has been designed for anyone with an interest in artificial intelligence or need to implement it within an organisation.
    If you want to find out more about our course and AI as a whole, then tune in to our free webinar recording. This 22-minute overview serves as a great introduction for those wanting to find out more about artificial intelligence, and what the future of humans and machines looks like.

  • What Is Artificial Intelligence In Software Testing?

    Software testing is no easy task, with many testers required to carry out a huge number of processes time and time again. Software testers are always looking for technologies and methods to make their testing processes easier and more accurate. Artificial intelligence has seen new opportunities in all areas of software development, and testing is no different.
    In order to embrace these new opportunities that AI can bring to the testing industry, it is vital that you understand what it is and how it can be used. Our experts are sharing everything you need to know about artificial intelligence, including what it is and how it can benefit software testing.

    What Is Artificial Intelligence?

    Artificial intelligence, or AI, has been a buzzword in recent years, with almost every industry beginning to adopt the technology in one way or another. It is becoming far more commonplace, and many of us will come across AI in some form every day of our lives. Put simply; artificial intelligence is machines simulating human processes.
    The programming uses three skills; learning, reasoning and self-correction, in order to operate similarly to the human mind. AI can learn by creating algorithms on how to turn data into useful information, these are combined with the reasoning processes which help to choose the correct algorithm for the desired outcome. All these algorithms are fine-tuned in the self-correction process in order to give the most accurate results.

    How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Software Testing?

    The software testing industry is increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to improve processes and enhance results. Automation has been embraced by most software testing for some time, as the benefits of automating many tests are clear. AI means that we can take automation even further and allow machines to take over the execution of many test codes that once needed manual interaction.
    It is a step toward making the entire software process completely automated with no human interaction required. In the future, it is expected that eventually software will be able to test, diagnose and fix itself.

    Why Is Artificial Intelligence Needed In Software Testing?

    Software testing is one of the most fundamental areas of software development. Despite this, many developers are unable to complete exhaustive testing, which is a test approach in which every possible data combination is used. This is because of a lack of both time and resources, as manually testing every combination would often be almost impossible. There is also a risk of human error in manual testing, and even the most precise software tester is likely to make mistakes at some stage.
    This is why there is a requirement for a system that can intelligently automate the process based on repetitive patterns.
    The process of software testing is the area of development which takes up the largest amount of time, resources and funding. Incorporating artificial intelligence can lead to faster deployments as the majority of testing is repetition checks. AI can be used to automate testing processes in an effective way which would be impossible with human testing, while also reducing time and costs.
    Good practice for software testers would be to use a combination of human intelligence and artificial intelligence in order to innovate the test environment. It is recommended to leave repetitive testing to AI-powered automation systems, while manual testing would still be required for complex test operations where human reasoning ability and creativity is still needed. By combining the two processes, software testers can ensure reliable results in less time, with fewer inaccuracies and inconsistencies than human testing alone.
    When artificial intelligence is used properly in software testing, it will be able to create software that is smarter and more productive to the end-user. However, to get to this point, AI needs to be properly interpreted and set up. The algorithms used must operate like genuine user interactions, and so need to be carefully created for accurate results.
    From this point, software testers can identify the areas in the process which could be optimised using AI. Having appropriate machine learning and algorithms in place, software testers can find more bugs in less time and will make the application more accurate and reliable.

    Looking Beyond Continuous Testing With Artificial Intelligence

    Software developers are always experiencing an increasing demand for more innovative software. In the past, software companies would release new iterations of the software on an annually, bi-annually or quarterly basis. These days, these new iterations generally last just a few weeks until a new release is available. This is a lot for software testing teams to keep up with, and so has led to the introduction of continuous testing. Continuous testing is used to make sure that the best possible user experience is delivered at all times, and processes are tested early and often.
    Looking to the future, it is clear to see that continuous testing won’t always be enough and additional support will be required to achieve a positive experience for users.
    Software is becoming increasingly complex and features high-performance speeds that are difficult to keep up with. Artificial intelligence and machine learning can be used to go beyond continuous testing. These technologies can be used to take control of complicated phases of the software development process. AI is ideal for advance software testing and automating tasks which include self-learning. This is something that was previously only available with human cognition.

    Artificial Intelligence Training For Software Testers

    Here at TSG Training, we understand that software testers often struggle to get to terms with artificial intelligence and the opportunities it can bring. Our BSC Essentials in Artificial Intelligence course is designed to teach the basics behind AI and machine learning. The one day course covers potential benefits, the types of artificial intelligence available, the process of machine learning, the challenges associated with AI and the potential future of AI and humans in work.
    This training is perfect for those with a keen interest in AI, or a need to implement artificial technology within an organisation.
    If you want to find out more, click here to view our FREE webinar that discusses the complex relationships between human and artificial learning.

  • 5 Ways To Speed Up Your Testing Cycle

    When it comes to software testing, everyone wants it done faster and more efficiently. Furthermore, every tester knows the demand to get things done in no time at all. However, software testing is not something that can be rushed, as it leaves room for errors and bugs that can cause serious problems down the line.
    As a software tester, the chances are you have faced pressures to speed up your testing process. It is vital that quality is maintained during testing, and luckily for testers, there are a few ways that the testing cycle can be improved effectively.
    Here at TSG Training, we spend a lot of time working with and teaching professional software testers. Just like the pressure on you to speed up your test processes, we have sped up our training with our accelerated learning courses. Our expertise in the subject has given us invaluable knowledge, and today, we share our expert tips on how to speed up the testing cycle.

    1.Use Automation, But Not For Everything

    In recent years, automated test platforms have become impressive and are great for helping developers test quickly without compromising on quality. Automation has become an essential part of any testing cycle, particularly when working with Agile.
    Many testers think that automating the entire process will reduce the release cycles and speed everything up while reducing the amount of manual work required. While automation can lead to fast delivery, it isn’t always effective. This is because, for every automated test, a large amount of additional software development is required beforehand to ensure the tests are created properly.
    Automated testing still requires a team of qualified testers to make sure that the whole process is going smoothly. All these software testers should have relevant training and qualifications in place. There will also be some software that is too complex for automated testing to handle. One of the best ways to speed up the testing cycle is to use a combination of both automated testing and manual testing.

    2.Keep Everyone Involved

    No software tester can do it all alone, and the most valuable asset for fast software testing is a good development team. The team should be made up of testers which are well aware of the project and their responsibilities within it.
    At every stage of the testing cycle, all testers in the team should be encouraged to share their ideas and opinions. Because every tester is going to have a unique understanding of the software, they will each be able to offer a different perspective. This can help solutions be found and implemented faster.
    The more eyes on a testing project also creates more opportunities for problems to be spotted, meaning that delays can be avoided. Every software tester and developer will be bringing a different level of experience, training and knowledge to the team. This level of variation creates the opportunity for more problems to be prevented based on experience levels. An experienced tester will be able to spot issues quickly, while those new to the testing industry will have a fresh perspective.

    3.Parallel Test When You Can

    As discussed above, automation can be useful in speeding up the testing process, but also has its shortfalls. One major downfall of automated testing is that it is sequential and can only allow one automated test at a time. This is where parallel testing can help.
    Parallel testing adds a boost to automation by running multiple tests at the same time. For many software testers, this is invaluable when testing across multiple operating systems, devices and browsers. It means that all of this can be tested together as opposed to running scripts over and over again with different configurations.
    For parallel testing and automation, you will generally need to rely on tools and testing frameworks. As a software tester, it is vital that you are able to leverage the right tools in order to speed up your testing cycle while still maintaining quality.

    4.Categorise Tests

    With so many tests to run and features to check, it can easily become overwhelming. It is important that you know which tests are vital and which are less so. One of the easiest ways to get fast feedback from tests is to run different categories according to the nature and functionality of the test.
    It is commonplace to categories tests as either smoke tests or regression tests. A smoke test ensures the critical functionalities of the software and checks that all business and tactical behaviours are intact. These are generally executed as part of every round of testing. Regression tests are the tests that cover all the other workflows and are generally less critical. These can be run on every other round or broken down further into subsets and tested in turn. This breakdown can ensure that testing cycles are not delayed, and tests are never compromised.

    5.Have A Solid Understanding And Knowledge

    Every software tester on the team should have a strong theoretical foundation in order to achieve the best testing results. This should generally be one of the first steps towards improving performance and speeding up testing cycles. When all team members involved have had relevant training and experience in software testing, it will ultimately help to enhance and speed up the process.
    Becoming a qualified software tester is often not a requirement, but it does have its advantages, and having a team of qualified professionals is sure to pay off.
    Here at TSG Training, we offer a range of accelerated learning courses for software testers. These courses are designed to keep you out of the office for as little time as possible and achieve qualifications quickly. UKTB fully accredits our courses on behalf of ISTQB, and you can choose the most appropriate level for you.
    The ISTQB Foundation in Software Testing is one of our popular accelerated learning courses and teaches learners a range of software testing techniques to help speed up the testing cycle. All trainees will learn common language for testing, understand established testing concepts and much, much more. To discuss your training requirements and the skills you are looking to improve, get in touch with the team by calling08000 199337.

  • What Do Employers Want From A Test Engineer?

    Good software requires excellent test engineers. This is why skilled and competent test engineers are in such high demand. So, what makes a good test engineer? If you want to impress employers and demonstrate why you are the perfect candidate for the role, here are the essential skills that employers are looking for from their test engineers.

    The key skills that employers want from a test engineer

     

    Teamwork

    While test engineers will spend most of their working day managing their own workload, software engineers, at all levels, will have to communicate well to ensure everyone in the project is up to date. Collaborating, sharing ideas and liaising with colleagues are all essential parts of the role. As a result, employers will be looking for candidates that clearly show a strong team spirit and will favour those who work well with others.

    Industry Best Practice

    With testing developing at a rapid pace, employers need to find candidates who are up to date with the latest tools and techniques as well as following the best practice methods to ensure successful testing. The critical aspect employers will be looking for is the training that their employees take and any follow-up or refresher courses that would have added to the learning.
    For entry-level test engineers, a qualification such as ISTQB Foundation in Software Testing will be highly regarded. (You can book this course here). As your experience grows in the industry, employers will be looking for your test engineer skills to develop. This may be by pursuing TMMi Professional for businesses that focus on the TMMi model. Alternatively, you may want to focus on App Testing or perhaps Test Automation.

    Experience

    While qualifications help to demonstrate your competencies, employers will be looking for test engineers with proven experience in the field. For entry-level roles, this may not always be possible. However, as test engineers require multi-layered competencies, there are ways that you can demonstrate your experience with particular skills, such as presenting, teamwork, communication and technical skills without having specific test engineer experience.
    It is crucial always to link your experience back to the critical requirements that the employer is looking for.

    Project Management

    When it comes to software developing and testing, there is usually an exact timeline complete with milestones and several deadlines. As a test engineer, you will be responsible for organising your workload around the schedule to make sure everything is ready in time. Being late or delaying your work will affect your colleagues and the next stage of the project.
    Many employers will look for test engineers to have their own project management skills, so that they can not only manage their own tasks but look to plan the whole testing regime, and often manage other staff too.
    Agile is a common practice that software companies adopt. More than just project management, it focuses on the key skills of communication, collaboration and operation to be fast-paced, high-quality and flowing. Many employers will look favourably on test engineers that are well versed in project management skills and have knowledge of aspects such as Agile too.If you manage a team of engineers or testers then Agile for Product Owners may be the course for you and your business.

    Communication

    Whatever level of testing you are currently at, a key component of your role will be to share feedback, ideas and information. Testing is actually a small aspect of the role; it is how you communicate those findings which will be integral to the business and your employers. Communication techniques will vary depending on the business structure, style and project you are working on.
    The most important aspect of communication for test engineers is to communicate your feedback and findings in a way that is clear and understandable. Many people in the business will not have the technical know-how or specific testing knowledge. Test engineers need to speak in a way that colleagues can comprehend so that they have the necessary information they need to come up with the right solutions for the project.
    From emails to conferences to presentations, it is wise to build up the soft skills of communication and to become comfortable with communicating across a range of formats.

    Quality Control

    Every test needs to be set up and implemented correctly. Test automation needs to be effective and successful. With this in mind, having a keen eye for detail and a strong analytical mindset will ensure that you are always implementing the correct quality control measures to ensure every test is successful and worthwhile.
    Product quality is a hugely desirable skill that many employers are looking for, and courses such as iSQI Practitioner in Agile Quality (PAQ) can really help to increase your competitiveness and set you apart from the competition. Showing your quality mindset can benefit the whole team as you can educate the best practices and put in place measures of effectiveness that make projects more successful.
    You can also be integral in lowering project costs and reducing timelines too as you learn to build quality into all of your testing techniques. Quality control hugely desirable skill for employers and will ensure you are in demand.

    Decision Making

    When it comes to software testing, there will always be obstacles to overcome. New systems and new software will undoubtedly have hiccups and issues which will all need ironing out. As a test engineer you will not only need to troubleshoot to problem, but also come up with a solution and make decisions that could impact the rest of the team and the project.
    Your decision making will need to draw on skills such as reasoning and analysis. Your decision making will often also need to be quick-thinking without being rash. Working well under pressure is a massive benefit for test engineers and will be something that employers will look for.
    Another critical aspect of decision-making is being comfortable with change. Your decisions may need you to divert from the planned course of action. Instead of taking the easy route, you need to focus and welcome changes that can bring the project success while also justifying these decisions to your colleagues and senior management.

    Skills for testing engineers

    While employers and looking for these vital skills from their software engineers, they will also know that many of the skills will develop from experience in the role. However, having a good understanding of these skills and where your strengths and weaknesses lie will help you to create a robust professional development plan to get to where you want to be. If you need support with your technical skills, then TSG Training is here to help with many different courses all for the benefit of testing engineers. Discover your next course here.

  • Why Do Big Brands Need Security Testing?

    In our always-on digital world, the fact that almost everyone can access data anywhere at any time poses a huge challenge to businesses. Ensuring data security is essential, not only for legal compliance such as GDPR but also for the profitability and overall success of organisations.
    For big brands who are desperate to keep customers on side and are careful not to risk damage to their reputation, managing data security through security testing is essential. So, just what is security testing, why do big brands need it and why should all organisations adopt it?

    What is security testing?

    Security testing is a way to ensure that the security systems that are put in place are working effectively. Businesses operate with a lot of sensitive and lucrative data from their customers. In order to obtain this data, brands need to demonstrate that they are trustworthy and have the security systems in place to look after customer data.
    However, hackers and cybercriminals are always on the lookout for ways to hack into the software and system of big brands to steal their data, customer information and expose vulnerabilities which can significantly damage the reputation of brands of all shapes and sizes.
    In fact, Verizon suggests that one in every five businesses have a chance of a data breach. This is frightening to every business when an average breach of 1,000 records will cost an organisation between $52,000 and $87,000.
    With this in mind, there is always a threat to businesses. The risk of a security breach is not just financial, but also damages an organisation’s reputation, brand, productivity as well as putting pressure on the tech support, forensics and regulatory compliance teams in the business.

    The importance of security testing

    With data breaches being a very real threat to organisations of all shapes and sizes, having the security testing skills available is critical. Security testing is a specific type of software testing that can help to ensure all systems in the workplace are free from threats, vulnerabilities and risks. A security tester works to explore and uncover any potential loopholes and weaknesses in the systems that could result in a data breach, loss of information, revenue or reputation.
    Essentially, security testing is working to detect and uncover all possible security risks and then helping the developers to fix these flaws and keep the software secure and your data safe.

    Types of security testing

    There are lots of different ways a security tester can assess and audit software to expose vulnerabilities. Some of which include;

    Risk assessments

    These are when any security risks in the organisation are recorded, analysed and classified. Risks are typically classified as low, medium or high. From there, testers will be able to recommend any specific controls or measures that are required to help reduce the risk of a breach.

    Security scanning

    Security scans can be completed both manually and automatically. The scans are there to identify weaknesses and then offer suggestions on how to reduce the risks. These scans can identify vulnerabilities across the network and systems.

    Ethical hacking

    Another popular type of security testing is ethical hacking. This is where a non-malicious hacker tries to access the software systems as a way to expose any security flaws in the system that the organisation can then put right. This is often completed by a third-party who will not have knowledge of what systems the business has in place.

    Penetration testing

    This form of security testing works to simulate a malicious attack, to check for vulnerabilities than an external hacker may use. This is similar to ethical hacking but works to seek an analysis of a particular system and what the outcomes would be if it were a malicious attack.

    Vulnerability scanning

    This type of security test is often automated and scans the systems of the business against known vulnerability signatures.

    Security auditing

    An audit will usually follow security guidance or audit rules and will inspect the internal working of systems for any security flaws. This can be done by checking each line of code for any faults or random testing of different applications, software and operating systems.

    When do big brands need security testers?

    Security testing is often an ongoing project and should be a crucial element through the entire lifecycle of any software that the business implements. In fact, it is wise to create a test plan that covers the test cases, data, tools and analysis that you will have at each point of the test plan. For example, vulnerability scanning should take place during development, while penetration testing is key for the implementation of software and security audits will form part of the support service.

    Do you want to be a security tester?

    As every business needs a security policy, security testers are in high demand too. Typically, security testers will also be technical testers, test managers or part of the security team in an organisation.If you like to put your detective hat on and uncover the less explored avenues to expose vulnerabilities and outfox the malicious hackers, then security testing could be your dream role.
    At TSG Training, we can help you to become a security tester with our comprehensive ISTQB Advanced Security Tester Online Course. With this accredited training, you can learn testing skills at your own pace, in the comfort of your own home. When you are ready, the course fees also cover your exam costs, which you can sit at your local Pearson VUE centre.
    The security tester course is ideal for those in the technical testing and data security roles who want to specialise in security testing. The course covers all aspects of testing through a life cycle so you can learn the best testing approaches to apply from inception to delivery.
    You can find out more about the course here or watch our Security Testing Webinar, featuring leading security expert Randy Rice here.