Software Testing Blog

In the third and final installment of our Testing the Limits interview with Lanette Creamer, we cover the Seattle testing scene; why more women don’t enter the profession; mobile testing challenges; test automation; her favorite Nicholas Cage movie and more. In case you missed them, here’s part I and part II.

uTest: The Seattle area has spawned an inordinate number of top testers (Whittaker, Bach, Bach, Creamer, et al) – what’s the deal with that?  Is there something in the water or is just a result of the Microsoft ecosystem being nearby?
LC: If there was no James Bach there would be no interview with a crazy redheaded tester named Creamer, because I would have no testing blog. If James Bach wasn’t in Seattle, I may not have had the chance to see him speak so often. Cast 2007 was in Bellevue, WA, maybe partially because that is close to Microsoft, so I guess in a roundabout way, it could be the Microsoft ecosystem being nearby that made Bellevue the location for Cast at the right time.

I prefer to think of it as something special about Seattle that fosters a unique perspective and resilience. Maybe it’s all of the cloudy weather. The grunge movement started in Seattle, and much like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden, there are some innovative contrarians who aren’t afraid to blaze new trails coming out of Seattle to this day – and flannel is in style again.

uTest: Numbers-wise, the software testing profession is clearly dominated by dudes. Why do you think that is? How do we change this trend? Does it matter, or is this topic completely overblown?
LC: When all of the women who have the talent, skills, and desire to be testing are appreciated for the value they offer, and the field is still dominated by dudes, then great! It is about having the opportunity, not about enforcing some gender ratio. Right now things are not equal and fair for female testers and I’d like to see that change in my lifetime. I don’t think male testers are the problem at all. After a few curious looks, once we start actually testing or talking about it, in my experience, most testers are supportive and eager to help each other learn regardless of gender. The problem is higher up in the companies where the value testers bring isn’t well understood and diversity isn’t valued for men or women. The top reason we should care about diversity in our testing teams is because the demographic of a computer user is more diverse than ever before.

I think we change this trend by educating hiring managers about the value of skilled and thoughtful testers. There is a misconception than any monkey can perform testing and that only coding requires skill. Designing maintainable test automation that is cost effective over time is also a rare skill that requires talent. Being able to code on a whiteboard does not mean that you have all of the skills needed to design great test automation. If you have a balance of skills on your team, you have options to blend skills, cross-train, and get a better results.

I am an advocate for a balanced approach to testing. To me, that means there is well-designed test automation that is maintainable and saves time and money for the company. Tools are used to support human test efforts. Testers are always learning and expanding their skills, both technically and to gain better user understanding and focus. The goal is always to provide the best experience to the user. I see the most potential for growth in the small to medium-sized software companies who are sincerely trying to adhere to the Agile manifesto. I don’t mean the companies trying SCRUM but keeping the stack ranking and individual competitive rewards, but companies who are really ready to try a team approach complete with team goals and rewards. Companies who are focused on intrinsic motivators and building a strong team can benefit the most from diverse testing teams including some females that fit well with their culture. I think that the large companies are going to continue to see a diminishing percentage of female testers at least until they make some changes.

uTest: What’s the greatest challenge that testers face in 2010?  What about testing managers?
LC: Lack of understanding about the value of testing is the most critical issue facing testers and test managers in 2010. We must find a way to communicate why testing is not optional.

uTest: In your experience, what skills/experience/traits represent the difference between a good tester and a great tester?
LC: Insatiable curiosity, creativity and persistence make a great tester. To be a decent tester, one must be smart, technical, honest and reliable – but that’s not enough to be a great tester.

uTest: How does the proliferation of Android, iPhone and iPad apps affect the mission that faces testers?
LC: I think we need to move beyond the emulators, away from the desk, and test in our cars while driving like the users do. On second thought, maybe we should park.

uTest: Redhead rapid-fire (in no particular order):

• Last book read?  Fun: Hammer of God by Karen Miller (Book 3 of the Godspeaker Trilogy) Testing: Agile Testing by Lisa Crispin & Janet Gregory, Business: Driving by Starlight
• Last movie watched?  How to Train Your Dragon
• Favorite band or album? Covenant
• Favorite Nicholas Cage movie?  Adaptation
• Browser of choice?  Firefox
• Cats or dogs? Cats! I have three. They show up in my slides often.
• Favorite video game? Columns, Tetris (puzzles). I used to play Tele Arena in the BBS days. I always played a healer, unsurprisingly.
• Which mobile device are you packin’? iPhone
• Favorite mobile app? Shazam for fun, but Flashlight I use constantly to find keys and lipgloss in my purse.
• Is it true what they say about redheads (that they make great testers)? It is totally true! We aren’t very sun tolerant, so I carry sunscreen so that I won’t burn.
• Favorite Bach brother? Johann Sebastian (He’s even more famous than James, so far!). I’d choose Jon if I had to pick who would be my manager. I admire the way he gives feedback and I know I’d flourish and grow as his employee. James is such an incredible teacher that his one day session changed my whole life. I’d have to pick him because I must go to another class he’s teaching! I like them both for different reasons. They have my vote as the best tag team, even if they don’t wear spandex and fight in a ring.

uTest: We’ve been fortunate enough to interview James Whittaker, Matt Heusser, James Bach, Michael Bolton, Jon Bach and Scott Barber for previous ‘Testing The Limits’ posts – and now you!  Who should we interview next to help educate and entertain our readers?
LC: Elisabeth Hendrickson should be next, no doubt! Adam Goucher, Chris McMahon, Dawn Cannan and Harry Robinson would be great additions to share their approaches to using testing tools in balance with thoughtful human testing. Lisa Crispin, Janet Gregory, Karen Johnson and Selena Delesie could provide some great insight into agile testing. Liz Marley is on the bleeding edge of testing mobile devices. Lee Copeland and Rob Sabourin bring great experience about finding and training talented testers. Cem Kaner, of course, who I referred to reverently above since he is one of the authors of the “software testing bible” as well as the person who should receive the lifetime achievement award in Software Testing if we had such a thing for all that he’s accomplished so far and continues to bring to testing.

uTest: Put on your prognosticator hat… what will Lanette be doing professionally in 2015?
LC: Making using software a better experience. I belong in quality. I want to contribute something of value to the profession of software testing.  Then again, perhaps I’ll be the one driving the backhoe as you pass your next construction site.

Editor’s note: We hope you enjoyed our Testing the Limits interview with Lanette Creamer. If you would like to suggest a candidate for our next Q&A, send your suggestions to marketing@utest.com.