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IMAGOQA CHAMPIONS BCS-ISEB To Tackle Software Testing Skills Shortage
Added: (Tue Oct 02 2001)
IMAGOQA CHAMPIONS BCS-ISEB
To Tackle Software Testing Skills Shortage
The acceptance that software testing is now the most crucial element of risk
management of IT projects and, in particular, e-Business applications, has
resulted in a dire shortage of experienced testing professionals.
Most of the good guys got there by chance - switching from a career in
software development or analysis in reaction to a crisis situation. Then,
converted to testing, they discovered there was no natural career path nor
certification procedure. So, crisis over, they either moved to other
companies or went into testing consultancy - outsourcing their skills to
those with similar short term testing requirements.
Some of them joined ImagoQA which since 1997 has grown by over 400% to
become one of Europe's leading software testing and risk management
consultancies. But now that testing has become a core element of all IT
development projects, there are not enough experienced testers to go around
and no time to wait for new people to learn the trade by experience alone.
"Testing needs to be recognised as a profession and natural career path
within the IT industry," says Brian Hambling, Technical Director at ImagoQA.
"Which is why we have set up our own Skills Transfer Division, and adopted
the British Computer Society's iseb (Information Systems Examination Board)
tester certification scheme to run a series of structured courses leading to
recognised certificates and diplomas in software testing.
"The initial iseb Foundation Certificate course has been a resounding
success," Brian Hambling continued. "More than 3,000 people have now
completed these three day courses run by us and other ISEB accredited
training providers. The certification scheme is effectively backed up by the
Special Interest Group in Software Testing and the British Computer Society
Industry Structure Model which defines career paths for IT professionals."
Certification Futures
Having put all their own software testing consultants through the iseb
Foundation Certificate course, ImagoQA is now running the courses both for
outside companies and individuals wishing to take up a career in software
testing. Covering the principles of testing, through dynamic testing
techniques, test management and the utilisation of automated testing tools,
the three day courses may be run on-site and/or at one of ImagoQA's training
centres.
Barclays Bank, HSBC and BT are among the first customers for ImagoQA's
foundation course - all are awaiting the imminent launch of the new
Practitioner Certificate course which will provide a natural progression
into risk, incident and people management, test process improvement and
analysis techniques. These new courses will be delivered in modules
amounting to ten days of lectures and practical work.
"The ISEB Certification Scheme will go a long way towards reducing the
shortage of professional testers in the UK IT industry," Brian Hambling
concludes. "Our next target is to encourage software testers to extend their
core certification to embrace a good awareness of other IT disciplines - our
goal is to change the perception of software testers so that they are
recognised as true IT professionals that choose to specialise in testing."
For details of ISEB approved courses being run by ImagoQA, contact Kerry
Chittenden, Tel: +44 (0) 1245 456667 , e-mail: kchittenden@imagoqa.com .
For Further Information:
Paul Meader
ImagoQA Limited
High Holborn House
52/54 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6RL, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7242 5100
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7421 8100
E-mail: enquiry@imagoqa.com
Website: www.imagoqa.com
Press Enquiries:
Tony Bovill
Consort PR Consultants Ltd.
Berrybridge House
Devenish Road
Sunningdale
Berkshire
SL5 9SH, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1344 626171
Fax: +44 (0) 1344 626612
E-mail: tony@consortpr.co.uk
Website: www.consortpr.co.uk