The Tester’s Role in a Software Development Organization

The tester’s job is to

  • Reveal defects,
  • Find weak points,
  • Inconsistent behaviour,
  • Circumstances where the software does not work as expected.

It is difficult for developers to effectively test their own code. A tester needs very good programming experience in order to understand how code is constructed, and to know where and what types of, defects could occur.

A tester should work with the developers to produce high-quality software that meets the customers’ requirements.

Teams of testers and developers are very common in industry, and projects should have a correct developer/tester ratio. The ratio will vary depending on

  • Available resources,
  • Type of project,
  • TMM level.
  • Nature of the project
  • Project Schedules

A testers also need to work with requirements engineers to make sure that requirements are testable, and to plan for system and acceptance test.

Testers also need to work with designers to plan for integration and unit test.

Test managers need to cooperate with project managers in order to develop reasonable test plans, and with upper management to provide input for the development and maintenance of organizational

  • Testing standards,
  • Polices,
  • Goals.

Testers also need to cooperate with software quality assurance staff and software engineering process group members.

Testers are a part of the development group. They concentrate on testing. They may be part of the software quality assurance group. Testers are specialists, their main function is to plan, execute, record, and analyse tests. They do not debug software. When defects are detected during testing, software should be returned to the developers.

The developers locate the defect and repair the code. The developers have a detailed understanding of the code, and they can perform debugging better.

Testers need the support of management. Testers ensure that developers release code with few or no defects, and that marketers can deliver software that satisfies the customers’ requirements, and is reliable, usable, and correct.

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