Doran Jones
Keith Klain
18 March 2014
Doran Jones has launched a software testing practice. The firm’s new COO, Keith Klain, reveals how financial services can benefit from a novel style
Image: Shutterstock
What is happening to the ‘commodity’ model of testing?
A large piece of the software testing market is delivered by test factories that are premised on an analogy comparing testing to manufacturing, hence the desire to ‘commoditise’ the role. Rapid deployment delivery models, risk based testing, and the increased adoption of agile methodologies strike directly at the concept of testing as a commodity, as you have to be highly skilled to operate in those environments.
As well, over the last 15 years or so, software testing has frequently been prioritised to adopt outsourcing and offshoring extensively, and the financial models used to justify that decision are leveling out due to rising wages, cost of living increases, and currency fluctuations. Most of the improvement models used to rationalise the commoditised testing approach use strictly quantitative metrics to assess quality or measure improvement; an approach that breaks down rather quickly beyond any first order metrics.
How is this changing?
There is an increased focus on business value and testing skills, which means you have to bring more to the table than just the ability to do it cheaper. What we are doing at Doran Jones is helping people make the transition from highly commoditised testing to skilled testing. The way we are going to do that, is by working with management first to understand the quality and information objectives of the organisation, and then constantly aligning the test approach to meet those goals.
Additionally, our approach is underpinned by the Rapid Software Testing methodology pioneered by James Bach. With that approach comes methods and techniques that accelerate the time to when testing begins and as well, puts the tester at the center of the process, something that is absolutely key to moving towards lightweight or agile delivery frameworks.
What could get in the way of this change in an organisation?
Education is one of the biggest barriers due to stereotypes and ingrained bias developed from decades of bad metrics programs, flawed maturity models, and low-value testing. Testers have to take responsibility for their own contribution to the problem as well, as we can re-enforce a lot of those perceptions by how we conduct ourselves and inherently limit our value.
I believe that if you want to drive change in an organisation and get congruent action from culturally and regionally diverse teams, you have to focus on what you are contributing to the problem first, articulate your values and principles to give people a lens to view their work, then develop strategies that are aligned to the business you support.
How does this apply to financial services firms?
Financial services firms can especially benefit from this type of testing transformation. Short delivery timescales, changing requirements, and regulatory pressure are exactly the sort of environment that demand good information about product quality as quickly as possible. There is a belief at a lot of financial services companies, that the organisations are either too big or complex to make the change, but I led the testing teams at Barclays Investment Bank through exactly this type of transition with some pretty great results.
In the end, what you get from changing your approach to testing is better information about risk, the ability to adapt quickly to shifting requirements, and a highly motivated test team that are focused on the right things. Many elements of your project environment and company culture contribute to product quality, but you can help limit your exposure to risk by adopting a context driven approach to testing.
What were you doing before you joined Doran Jones?
I’ve worked in various quality management roles in financial services firms and software testing consulting organisations, living in the US, Europe and Asia. I’ve always felt testing has one of the most important roles to play in technology as they support their business, because we provide information that can be used directly to manage risk.
A problem with the commoditised approach to software testing is that it inherently devalues people in a creative, intellectual process and fundamentally doesn’t deliver on its responsibility to articulate risk in business terms. I think the testing industry is fundamentally changing for the better and there hasn’t been a better time to be a software tester.
What’s the plan at Doran Jones?
At Doran Jones, we have one of the best teams in the business when it comes to software testing, and are forming partnerships with several thought leaders such as QASymphony, which specialises in building tools for agile testing. So when a company works with us on either delivering testing services or helping them make the move to skilled testing, they can be sure that approach and people they will be working with are serious about software testing.
← Previous interview
BNP Paribas
David Raccat
Next interview →
Markit Securities Finance
David Carruthers
