Comments on: Four Stages of Testing Competence http://mavericktester.com/four-stages-of-testing-competence The startup's software tester Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:47:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Thomas Ponnet http://mavericktester.com/four-stages-of-testing-competence#comment-1046 Thomas Ponnet Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:56:42 +0000 http://mavericktester.com/?p=540#comment-1046 Great idea about the co-op for software testers, would there be money in it? Might be an interesting business avenue. There's http://www.contractoruk.com/ which helps newbies but it's not really what I have in mind. More than anything else I have a gut feeling that it's about the mindset, ie at a conference your fellow testers are no longer peers but potential clients. I don't think I made that switch, yet. Working with start-ups sounds exactly what I'd like to do as I worked in corporations for the last 20 years and have enough. Working with people who actually want the help sounds much more satisfying to me. Let's continue that discussion if we meet in person at some stage, what do you think? Great idea about the co-op for software testers, would there be money in it? Might be an interesting business avenue.

There’s http://www.contractoruk.com/ which helps newbies but it’s not really what I have in mind. More than anything else I have a gut feeling that it’s about the mindset, ie at a conference your fellow testers are no longer peers but potential clients. I don’t think I made that switch, yet. Working with start-ups sounds exactly what I’d like to do as I worked in corporations for the last 20 years and have enough. Working with people who actually want the help sounds much more satisfying to me.
Let’s continue that discussion if we meet in person at some stage, what do you think?

]]> By: Anne-Marie Charrett http://mavericktester.com/four-stages-of-testing-competence#comment-1002 Anne-Marie Charrett Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:18:46 +0000 http://mavericktester.com/?p=540#comment-1002 Hi Thomas, I like your thought about the common knowledge. In some ways that's why I like working with startups, who sometimes have little knowledge on testing. I feel I am really providing value. I am a Yoga practitioner, bobbing between beginner and intermediate depending on my level of enthusiasm, definitely in the conscious incompetence stage and foolishly jumping to the conscious competence whenever there are total beginners in the class (did I ever tell you I was massively competitive?) Good Luck in your choices. I hope you come to a decision. I sometimes think there ought to be a co-op for all the software testers who want to go it alone. That way stepping out is not such a overwhelming prospect. :) Hi Thomas,
I like your thought about the common knowledge. In some ways that’s why I like working with startups, who sometimes have little knowledge on testing. I feel I am really providing value.

I am a Yoga practitioner, bobbing between beginner and intermediate depending on my level of enthusiasm, definitely in the conscious incompetence stage and foolishly jumping to the conscious competence whenever there are total beginners in the class (did I ever tell you I was massively competitive?)

Good Luck in your choices. I hope you come to a decision. I sometimes think there ought to be a co-op for all the software testers who want to go it alone. That way stepping out is not such a overwhelming prospect. :)

]]> By: Thomas Ponnet http://mavericktester.com/four-stages-of-testing-competence#comment-997 Thomas Ponnet Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:44:11 +0000 http://mavericktester.com/?p=540#comment-997 Great post and feels very true. In my past life I used to work in the chemical industry as research scientist. I always thought that I had a lot to learn until talking to non-scientists who didn't understand a word of what I was talking about. I think there are several levels of Unconscious Competence, testing or other - it depends on what level you measure. An example from the chemical world: Surely everyone knows what sodium chloride is? (common household salt) Or can quickly throw the chemical analysis for photosynthesis on a wall? (Come on, they teach that to 12 year olds). Or can analyse how this new drug might bind to proteins? The better you get at something the more you forget what's common knowledge and what isn't. Of course common knowledge is just a heuristic. My wife's a Yoga teacher and she has to consciously remind herself what her audience is. If it's teaching to beginners she can't expect everyone to touch their toes, that's what they're there to practice! Intermediates won't have a problem with that but might want to learn to put their foot behind their head, etc. As in many things it's a matter of perspective. Oh, and personally I'm probably at the third stage; test manager, bored and asking myself exactly the question you have already answered for yourself. :-) Great post and feels very true.
In my past life I used to work in the chemical industry as research scientist. I always thought that I had a lot to learn until talking to non-scientists who didn’t understand a word of what I was talking about. I think there are several levels of Unconscious Competence, testing or other – it depends on what level you measure.
An example from the chemical world:
Surely everyone knows what sodium chloride is? (common household salt)
Or can quickly throw the chemical analysis for photosynthesis on a wall? (Come on, they teach that to 12 year olds).
Or can analyse how this new drug might bind to proteins?

The better you get at something the more you forget what’s common knowledge and what isn’t. Of course common knowledge is just a heuristic. My wife’s a Yoga teacher and she has to consciously remind herself what her audience is. If it’s teaching to beginners she can’t expect everyone to touch their toes, that’s what they’re there to practice! Intermediates won’t have a problem with that but might want to learn to put their foot behind their head, etc.

As in many things it’s a matter of perspective.

Oh, and personally I’m probably at the third stage; test manager, bored and asking myself exactly the question you have already answered for yourself. :-)

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