"You can only improve quality if you go into depth with testing".
In this blog series we talk to test managers and test coordinators from various industries. At Testersuite we like to hear the various views on testing and what keeps a test manager or test coordinator busy. Meet Koen Janssen (38), Test manager at Action.
My name is Koen Janssen and I live together with my girlfriend Cher in Enkhuizen. Three months ago we were joined by our beautiful daughter Billie.
Well, that was a close call. When I was at secondary school, I had already decided to study IT.
That's true, but I was one of the few people who didn't like programming at the HIO course. I was much more interested in the preliminary stages. In other words, the software design and the interaction with the user(s). I did do the programming and I did manage to get it right, but it was a struggle. My interest lay much more in other subjects. I passed those with flying colours.
"I was one of the few who didn't like programming"
The next step was the Master Information Management at Tilburg University. A somewhat broader study with economics and management. This also gave me the opportunity to study for six months at Purdue University in Indiana (USA).
After graduating, I could have gone in various directions, such as Business Consultancy or Enterprise Architect. But my preference went out to the interaction with the business and developer. This is why the choice for testing was quickly made. Being the link between the user and developer.
I started creating baggage in 2006 by working as a test consultant at LogicaCMG. Before Logica, I worked for UPC, Philips and the NS, among others, for two years. After that, I worked as a test coordinator for AH and Tele2 via Immune IT. In 2011, after 5 years of work experience, it was time for me to stand on my own two feet. As a freelancer I started working for KPN and Ziggo. After a year sabbatical in Australia, I came in contact with PTWEE through a mutual colleague in 2014.
Through PTWEE - a sister company of Testersuite - I did some assignments at Heijmans and PWN. Based on that, PTWEE asked me to work at Action in December 2016. They were looking for a test coordinator there. A nice challenge within a large SAP landscape with 4 releases per year.
I coordinate the SAP releases. This makes me the spider in the web between the functional administrators, functional consultants, ABAP people, key users, etc. This means that I draw up and monitor various scripts, including regression tests, for example. But also monitoring of defects, test scripts and requirements.
"Without Testersuite you are at the mercy of Word, Excel and e-mail. That's back to the stone age"
In addition to the SAP releases, I was involved as Test Manager in implementations of a Supply Chain Portal and auto replenishment of the Action DCs. Currently, I am Test Manager for the migration to SAP Successfactors. At Action, they had already been working with Testersuite for some time when I arrived there. With my arrival, we have deepened the quality of the test cases. As a result, different phases within the test process are easier to transfer from one resource to another. Regression tests have also been expanded. We are now thinking about automating certain parts of the testing process.
Raise awareness of the need for testing and extend the short timeframe for testing. Testing is now often the final piece in the IT budget. This really has to improve! If you want to improve the quality and ease of use of your IT environment, more attention will have to be paid to the testing processes.
By talking to all those involved in the project. This gets everyone on the same page. A test manager must be communicative, proactive and analytical.
"Testing is now often the final piece in the IT budget. This really has to improve!"
That we are still in an advisory role rather than a decisive one. That is also the challenge of the profession. For example, product risk analysis is important in order to get people on board. Creating insight by clearly outlining the consequences of defects.
Communication to all stakeholders within the IT project. Simplicity of use for key users. Key users can be in control. Without this tool, you are at the mercy of Word, Excel and e-mail, which is back to the Stone Age.
With Testersuite you are constantly building your test scripts and test scenarios. It ensures the reuse of regression tests. The data that you record in Testersuite ensures that you build a basis for administrators of new systems for upgrades and changes to existing infrastructure / software. Using the master list and writing data back to the master list is ideal. This results in faster implementation of new systems.
The link with Topdesk is absolutely fantastic. The integration runs smoothly and provides us with many advantages. Furthermore Testersuite helps to create a basis for acceptance by, among other things, finding defects early in the test phase. My personal mission is to create depth in testing with the aim of improving quality. Testersuite helps me enormously with this.
Testersuite makes work very easy. Also to explain to key users. By means of test runs, for example. Linking users to a group so that this group can perform tests itself is a functionality that has recently been included in Testersuite and is very useful.
The Excel export is ideal. However, I would like to be able to zoom in via the dashboard within the tool. Up to the level of users and individual date. This would be ideal for the status of the defects per person. Progression over time via the dashboard.
"Hold the hand of the key user, project manager, consultant, integration project manager, etc..."
I think that automated testing and exploratory testing will stand side by side. Automated testing is particularly interesting for regression tests. Exploratory testing by people remains important. This is much more functionality-based. You really cannot leave that to an automated system.
Get stuck into your project and make sure you add value to it. Hold the hand of the key user, project manager, consultant, integration project manager, etc... And make sure you keep an overview. Know what you are doing.
Let's talk?
Do you have interesting experiences in the testing profession that you would like to share? Let's talk!
