Europe’s leading independent specialist software QA, Test & Validation full services provider Test as a business versus the business of Test.

Europe’s leading independent specialist software QA, Test & Validation full services

provider

Test as a business versus the business of Test

!!Agenda

Introduction

Declan Kavanagh“27 years in the business”

&

Insight Group

!!Sce

ne s

ett

ing How is test viewed in business

terms within the organisation? Ask the MD!:

“ We are a quality organisation so we have to have Test !”

“We need to know what we build works ”

“An important cost/overhead centre”

“Its in development group, isn't it?”There should be no such thing as a cost centre in an organisation

only value creation centres!

!!Sce

ne s

ett

ing The topic proposition

“ Test creates value for the business but how do they maximise it and make

it visible?”

“Test managers and teams should become more entrepreneurial and

influential ”

“Adopting best practice business principals and running test as a mini business can have a major impact”

“How might we go about this?”

!!Defi

nit

ion

Most commonly, the term entrepreneur applies to someone who establishes a new entity to offer a new or existing product or

service into a new or existing market, whether for a profit or not-for-profit outcome

Entrepreneurs often have strong beliefs about a market opportunity and are willing

to accept a high level of personal, professional or financial risk to pursue that

opportunity..

!!Pre

face

Ask yourselves

What is my business in Test about?

•What is the business we are in?•Why are we in it?•Who are our clients?•Who are the stakeholders?•What is important?•Have we consensus?

!!anti

cipate

Ask yourself what could

happen ?Change HappensA new entrant impacts our salesA new technology arrivesA new methodologyExpansion to lower cost locationsA Release is poor getting to market

The Alternatives (Competition)Invest in some other function or processCarry out activity in another locationIn source or Out sourceHave Developers do testHave support do testHave business do testAutomate and reduce testDo Nothing

!!Busi

ness

of

Test

Drivers:•Releases•Requirements & Regulations•Past Performance•Process Improvement•Information•People & Skills

Functions:•Test Process Definition•Test Strategies•Risk Analysis•Test Plans•Test Cases•Test Environment•Test Tools•Test Execution•Test Information (Metrics and Reports)

!!Test

as

a B

usi

ness

Drivers:•Internal & External customer needs•Business Context and Constraints•Delivery of Measurable Value•ROI•Business Cases•Business of Test Drivers

Functions:•Business of Test functions (Operations)•Strategy (Value creation and realisation)•R and D (Innovation & Appropriate Practice)•Marketing (Offerings, Value Proposition, Collateral, PR, Awareness, interventions)•Sales ( ID need, Consequences, Present solution, benefits, business case and close)•Channels and Partners

!!A M

issi

on The Steps

•Business environment•Customer Stakeholder •Value Chain •Core Competence •Value Proposition•Vision•Roles•Business Plans & Cases•Performance Management (Results)

!!Aw

are

ness

•Market for companies products and services.•Suppliers •Technology•Competition (internal/external)•Geography•Corporate•SWOT

Business Environment

What is happening ?

Is the team aware, monitoring, networked ?

Do the team capture and review?

!!connect

ions

•End Customer/User•Product Management and or BA’s•Development•Business (Sales, Marketing etc)•IT•Development•Senior Management

Test Stakeholder Customers

Do we Know who they are ? And their Needs?

They all have some vested interest, need and power. Are we engaged with them?

!!infl

uence

•What is happening more locally ? Eh BU, Function, Division, Dept.•Do we understand where each component in the process adds value?•Are we clear where Test currently adds value and where there is potential to add value?

Where are we adding value in the supply

chain to satisfy needs?

Are there local/internal competitive drivers?

!!Diff

ere

nti

ate

•A core competence is a skill or capability within test that we really excel at, it underpins the value we bring to the company and enables us create and deliver specific services. Core competencies should be difficult to acquire and should be continuously reviewed and developed. If they are easy to acquire then they can be developed by alternative sources and thus do not differentiate us.

Core CompetenciesHave Test got the right

ones?

Will they help meet current or future stakeholder customer needs?

!!A M

issi

on

•Offerings packaged, methods etc•Pain, Consequences, Solution, Benefits, Evidence.•Test is a service (a new product every time)•Communication•Leverages competencies•Differentiates •Qualitative and Quantitative current and target situation

Value Proposition from Test

Can we make it clear to stakeholder customers?

Creating the link to stakeholder goals

!!Vis

ion

Goals

o

o

oo

o

Mission

Mission

MissionValue

s

Team

!!Vis

ion

Company

Vehicle

Company Team

Have we a plan and are we

equipped for the journey?

Have we contingency and skills to address

problems as they arise?

Is the leader pointing us all in

the right direction?

Do the stakeholder team know where we

are and visa versa?

Do we know where we are and

how we are progressing?

Are we all on the same page and know our roles?

Role Traditional Expanded

Test Manager •Planning & co ordination.•Strategy•Interface

•Strategic plan & value creation.•Promotion•Partnering

Test Architect •Design, Methods & Stds

•Offerings•MIS & tools•Advice

Team Leads •Work mgmt•Dev I/F•Test Plan & exe

•Supplier management.•Competence Dev•Pre Sales

Senior Engineer

•Test Design•Test exe

•Consultants•New Specialists•Trainers

Test Analysts •Test exe •Scripting

Specialists •Automation•Non Functional

•Coaches

QA & Process •Stds & Audit •Fit for purpose Best Practice

!!Execu

tion

•Metrics•Key Performance Indicators•Meetings ( Daily/Weekly etc)•Monthly program reviews•90 Day objective reviews•Formal and Informal meetings with stakeholder customers•Surveys

Performance Management

Knowing how we are doing and adjusting

Creating the link to stakeholder goals

!!Best

Pra

ctic

eBusiness Plan and

CasesPlanSummarises the visionActs as a guide – Road mapVehicle for Comms and buy inDemonstrates the value over timeBrief document 10 pages max

CaseStructure for investment decisionsLeverages best practice metricsDemonstrates ROIQuantitative & Qualitative2 Page standard Document

!!Sum

mary

Considerations :•I own my business mind set•What's the ROI?

•Visible business value•Recognition of the importance of test and test practitioners•Investment Justified•Career Development

•Importance of Customer Focus•Importance of team work

Making it happen :•Agree the principal•Do the Test Business Plan (3-4 pages)•Get Sign off on the plan from Stakeholders•Review performance against the plan•Use Business Case for investment

!!Sum

mary

Test as a Business :•Run Test as if it was your own business•Create and share the vision•Focus on customer needs (internal and external)•Understand your core competencies and gaps.•Fill gaps through development and partnerships•Define your niche•Understand and demonstrate your value proposition•Bring stakeholders and your team along with you (Teamwork)•Have an agreed plan•Create visibility

Ireland’s largest & leading specialist software QA, Test & Validation services provider

Thanks for your attention

Questions?

Copies of white paper available on www.insight-test.com