In the quality environment of a project, there are the executors: the functional tester and the automation tester. Around these profiles gravitate several other test-related professions. Today, we're going to look at the difference between these different professions.
Visit Test manager :
Its purpose is to manage the overall organization of testing for the project. It is the only profile with ISTQB certification to date.
Working directly with project or company management, the Test Manager defines the testing strategy. He or she is responsible for managing the resources of the test team, both in terms of budget and planning. He or she is also responsible for the QA team's overall reporting.
His hierarchical position requires him to have project management skills in addition to advanced knowledge of software testing.
He/she is expected to have a test plan, a clear QA strategy and regular reporting on product quality. He will also be responsible for identifying process improvement opportunities for his team.
Depending on the size of the team, his role may be mixed with that of Test Lead. In large teams, there will usually be a Test Manager who coordinates several Test Leads, each of whom organizes the work of several QAs. In smaller teams, the Test Manager will also carry out the work of the Test Lead.
Its main objective is to ensure that quality is managed.
Visit Test Lead :
Its purpose is to supervise the testing activity on a project, a part of a project or a team. Thus, within a single QA team, there may be several sub-teams, each with its own Test Lead.
As part of a QA team, the Test Lead will coordinate testing activities. As part of this role, he/she will supervise the testers and also participate in the tasks to be carried out: test execution and validation, participation in meetings (agile or otherwise). His or her mastery of the business domain and requirements provides him or her with test-related business expertise. He/she will be able to help his/her team identify and solve more technical problems.
He or she is expected to have technical testing skills, as well as the availability to provide supervision. He must also be able to communicate easily with the hierarchy above him, often a Test Manager.
His superiors expect him to produce test reports, containing a summary of the test cases written by the team to which he belongs, as well as the project's test coverage rate.
Its main objective is to ensure that quality is tested.
The QA Coach :
The QA Coach is often an external person who comes to work for a company on an ad hoc basis.
Its aim is to support one or more teams in implementing or developing QA practices.
His cross-functional role requires great adaptability and a rapid understanding of the field. He or she will coach the QA team to enable them to improve their skills, but can also provide longer-term follow-up as part of continuous improvement. Depending on the maturity of the team, there may be reluctance to change.
The QA Coach will create mentoring sessions, enabling the team to evolve. Through QA workshops, he will enable teams to discuss and exchange ideas. Thanks to him, the Test Lead or Test Manager will also be able to work on a quality roadmap for the project.
Its main objective is to help teams integrate quality into their culture and practices.
In a nutshell
Although all three revolve around the QA team, each of these test professions has a specific objective. The Test Manager leads the team and has a more managerial role. The Lead QA is more responsible for organizing tests and participating in tasks. The QA Coach, on the other hand, does not necessarily belong to the organization and will help the team to improve its QA strategy.
At the very least, a team will have a Test Manager. Sometimes this position does not exist and is filled by the Test Lead. As the team grows, the Test Manager will be accompanied by a Test Lead to help guarantee quality. The QA Coach may sometimes be absent or may only intervene occasionally, as not all teams need one.
However, as we have seen, roles evolve and can sometimes merge according to project needs. In all cases, communication and transparency enable a QA team to flourish and work effectively. By working closely together, these three professions will be able to define the strategy by jointly identifying opportunities for improving test and quality processes.
FAQ - Testing professions
QA Analyst, QA Engineer, Functional Tester, Test Manager, Automation Engineer... Each role contributes to product quality in its own special way.
Not always. Some positions require automation and scripting skills, while others focus on functional analysis, scenarios and user experience.
Because they guarantee the reliability, safety and stability of a digital product. Without testing, it's impossible to deliver a robust product.
No. They speed up repetitive testing, but the analysis, business understanding and creativity of testers remain indispensable.
This article was inspired by Fatima-Zahrae Abbadi and Jean-François Fresi's presentation at the French Software Testing Day organized by the CTFL.
Laëtitia Ouillade
Consultant Functional Tester
