| | April 20178CIOReviewFrom Sheep to Sherpa: A New Avatar of Software Testing ProfessionalsBy Sujay Honnamane, Director-Quality Engineering & Assurance, Cognizant Technology Solutions [NASDAQ:CTSH]As enterprises adopt Digital and DevOps, the role of software testing professionals undergoes a change. With shifts in methodologies, the tester also `Shifts Left' and becomes increasingly central to Business and IT teams. However, navigating these changes may be difficult as new practices like Agile and DevOps converge together into a Digital challenge for testers. Traditional testing approaches no longer support faster delivery of software, without compromising quality. Enterprises need to adopt DevOps and its associated tool-chain, which require superior technical skills and enhanced collaboration between IT teams. The IT functions, working in silos in a traditional set-up, would not be able to achieve the digital mandate of Quality@Speed.A colleague of mine uses the `Sherpa' analogy to highlight the role of today's testers. Sherpas are super-human mountaineers, who can effortlessly climb the world's highest mountain-Mount Everest. Low oxygen and ever-changing weather at these high altitudes push human endurance to its limits, but Sherpas have mastered the art.Today's testers have to be the Sherpas to meet IT and business objectives. An exceptional `all-rounder', who possesses deep technology knowledge and broad-consultative skills. At times, an individual contributor and in other situations a leader, a manager and a coach for the team. Hence, a tester has to be aware of the project stakes to drive the team toward success­just like a football quarterback (Yes, I mean a Tom Brady!)From an After-Thought to an All-RounderToday, software testers need to be involved right from defining requirements to software deployment. Testers need to test business requirements for testability and make suggestions for IN MY Opinion
< Page 7 | Page 9 >