Managing Conflict in Software Testing

1
Managing Conflict in Software Testing

• By
• Cynthia F. Cohen, Stanley J. Birkin, Monica J.
  Garfield and Harold W. Webb
• Presentation by Erin Mahaffy

2
Organizations Conflict

• Many reasons for conflict
• Not always negative
• Can disrupt work
• Software testing is adversarial

3
Studying Conflict

• Field interviews
• Four companies
• Three basic conflict layers
• Processes
• People
• Organization

4
Time Resources

• Allocation of time between development and
  testing
• Time increasingly scarce
• Schedule demands
• Sequential processes
• Development slip

5
Requirements

• Developers focus on design
• Testers focus on stated requirements
• Developers want to embellish

6
People Issues Groups

• Developers dont understand user issues
• Unit test differences
• Testers understand business environment
• Perception of developers by testers

7
Code Personalization

• Ego issues
• Test was broken
• Co-worker complaints

8
Organization

• Testers as worthy as developers
• Developers at top
• Lack of status part of job
• Need to start at the top
• Managers are intermediaries

9
Resolution - Time

• Time for testing/QA must be inviolate
• Critical Chain Scheduling
• Parkinsons Law
• Project buffer
• Raises awareness

10
Goals

• Goals defined
• Common purpose
• Collaboration
• Quantification measures

11
Team Building

• Training in conflict resolution
• Enhance future working relationships
• Communication skills
• Cooperative problem-solving
• Build relationships
• Social events
• Back channels

12
Understanding Point of View

• Differing perceptions of process
• Acquaint both with the others work
• Involvement in requirements phase

13
Organization - Structure

• Proximity
• Time saving
• Integrated teams
• Many of the same conflicts
• Still better relationships
• Comprehensive product ownership

14
Involved Leadership

• Cues from managers
• Signal testing is important
• Compatible project goals
• Conflict management
• Managers handling of issues
• Poor management factor in escalation of conflict

15
Conclusion

• Expect conflict
• Managers set the tone
• Improves overall process