As a new addition to the EuroSTAR community, we will be
interviewing prominent testers from across the globe - this is an
interview with Martin Pol from the Netherlands.
- How did you get involved with testing
initially?
That happened in 1985. As an employee of the Dutch Ministry of
Finance I was asked to implement structured testing and write a
Handbook for that. Since there was nothing usable available in The
Netherlands I was sent to the US where I met pioneers like Bill
Hetzel, David Gelperin and Boris Beizer. I was able to attend an
intensive training and exchange knowledge with people of companies
that already made a lot of progress in the structuring process.
Back home we applied the theory in a couple of big projects and
based on the experiences we published the Handbook in 1988. This
Handbook represented the initial version of the well known TMap
approach, first published in 1995.
- What has been the most challenging test project in
your career to date?
In the ninety's The Dutch Post-offices organization asked a big
international system integrator to renovate their entire IT
infrastructure, including all hardware, system- and application
software, even training for the staff and new furniture for all
offices were included. They agreed on a fixed price. Far too late
(all contract work was done and the project team was assigned) they
started thinking about testing.
The contracts contained terms like "error free delivery" and
"full coverage". Not a single testing expert had been involved. At
that too late moment I was asked to create a master test plan and
lead the system- and acceptance tests. This project showed me the
gap between theory and practice, between high-level decision making
and "feet in the mud"; between "what's the good thing to do" and
politics. The bad news is that the project used three times the
original lapse time, the good news is that the test team did a
great job and that we learned a lot.
- What has been the most interesting/unique test
project/activity you have been a part of? And why?
My company Polteq was asked to help a Chinese company to
structure their testing processes. They asked to assess their
processes, advice about improvement steps, support the
implementation of these improvements and train their (6000)
testers. I did not believe 6000, but that was really the number
they were working with.
It was a big challenge for the Polteq team to help this
organization. I have personally been working for companies around
the globe, in all kind of branches, in many language and culture
areas. This experience helped, but this job exceeded everything so
far. Apart from some language and culture issues (everything with
translators and a very strong hierarchy in both reporting lines and
processes), the high intelligence of the testing staff, the
eagerness to learn, the acceptance of testing (no resistance), and
the sincere friendliness of all people stroke me deeply. A great
experience that I'll never forget.
- What changes have you seen take place in testing over
the past 5 - 10 years?
Professional, well trained and certified testing staff became
available: Testing shows craftsmanship.
This craftsmanship enabled testers to leave process thinking and
give priority to working software that really helps the business.
Professional testers are able to contribute in any (agile)
situation.
Integration of all kind of application systems towards the limit
of the span of control, resulting in the need of adequate SOA
solutions and regression/integration testing. Also the integration
of development, testing and the business has matured.
More and more testing is being accepted at the right decision
making level. Early involvement and a solid budget for testing have
become common in many companies. Testing is between the ears of
many senior managers now.
The breakthrough of outsourcing, also because of the lack of
testing staff in Europe
- Where do you feel testing as a profession is heading
for in the future?
Service Driven Test Management: Test management will fully focus
on the project objectives: to implement a workable solution for the
business. Not as a kind of referee but organizing whatever is
required to enable the project team to add quality. As a
professional member of the project team nowadays test management
will find solutions for any testing related problem that could
influence the project's success. Service Driven Test Management
means: Taking Ownership and showing Partnership with
Craftmanship
Test management will also be extended with outsourcing
management, including monitoring and governance. Related to this
many (on-shore) testing jobs will shift towards
regression/integration testing.
Certification of testing staff, test processes, test scripts and
last but not least software.
Full cooperation of development, testing and the business,
working together in any (agile) way.
Supporting de-integration of the application systems.
- When you are not working, what do you do to relax and
unwind?
For my work as a test consultant I'm traveling a lot. I always
arrange leisure time at location to meet people, look around, sniff
the culture and make nice pictures.
My biggest hobby is everything related to Spain and
Spanish: the language, the history, the tremendous growth of Spain
since 1969 (my first visit), the Spanish role in Latin
America in the past and nowadays; the politics; Spanish music and
their football, but most important the Spanish people. My wife Wil
and I spend a couple of months a year in the Valencia area.
At home in Holland I cherish my pond filled with nice fishes and
plants. You may understand that I don't like herons.
- You have attended a number of EuroSTAR conferences,
which was your favorite and why?
I have attended almost all EuroSTARs so far. The 1996 one in
Amsterdam has always stayed my favorite. This first real
continental EuroSTAR in cozy Amsterdam established the foundation
for the following great events.
- Has Testing become a career choice amongst IT
Graduates/Professionals?
Yes, we have been successful in making it attractive.
- What specific areas of testing do you find yourself
most attracted to?
The organizational aspects: management, people, outsourcing
governance and process (improvement).
- Who has been the greatest influence on your career?
Why?
That is a group of people that gave me the space to exploit my
talents. I only mention two names: my wife Wil who supported
me by thick and thin and my business partner Marjolein
Steyerberg who always took care of all the business aspects I was
not skilled for or didn't like to do.
- Where is your favorite holiday
destination?
Spain and Scandinavia.
- If there was one piece of advice that you would give
to an aspiring tester, what would it be?
Take your chances, don't be afraid to take some risks, work hard
and fully focus on your objectives
- Who are your favorite band? And what is your favorite
song?
La Oreja de Van Gogh, a well known band in the Latin world. My
favorite song is "Jueves" (Thursday) linked to the
terrorist attach in Madrid on the 11th of March
2004.
- Last question, what qualities do you feel are
important in order to become a talented test
professional?
That depends:
Very smart wiz kids for design, analysis and engineering;
Good technicians for tooling and infrastructural aspects;
People with administrative skills for metrics, reporting,
etc.
Politicians that combine the three qualities above for
coordination and test management.