Laws of Test Management
Strategy Paradox
The best test strategy is a mix of conflicting strategies.
Nobel Principal
Proving positive ROI means the Nobel Prize in economics.
Data Volume Principal
Less data, but correct and real-time, is best.
Retention Principal
Enrich and support your team — to keep them.
Law of Ratios
The developer-to-tester ratio should be proportional to the importance of correctness.
Human Principal
Test strategy should depend primarily on the humans, not the tech or the business.
1st Law of Speed
Speed is your enemy. You will never be fast enough but never slow things down.
2nd Law of Speed
Speed is your friend. Speed is appreciated more than quality.
Managers be Managers Principle
The best test managers are not the best testers.
The Law of Flatness
Structure kills testing.
People Paradox
You are a manager and communicator of risk, not people.
Paradox of Nothing
The greatest test power is to not test something.
Tool Principal
Most testing tools are bought by tools.
Hiring Paradox
Some testers are hired for scale-induced promotion.
Efficiency Principle
Automation has a negative ROI except for speed.
Onesie Principal
On a test team of one, you are the tester and the manager.
Law of Ethical Testing
Be ethical in absolute, not relative, terms.
Law of the Customer
Your customers are the business and the customer — but the business’ customer is also the customer.
People Principal
The best test strategy for a given context — will vary by the tester and their team.
Politician Principal
You are a politician, be a great one.
Law of Success
Success is not being noticed. But make people notice.
— Jason Arbon, TestNerd
