48 | The Last Word
the last word...
4 V C T D S J C F U P U I F N P T U
7 J U " - T P V S D F P G J O G P S N B U J P O
Working together,
better
Everyone seems to be on about it:
social media; collaboration; crowd
sourcing. But what does it all really
mean? Rosie Sherry’s been finding out.
T
hey say anyone can work members. Or that they have been
from anywhere. This is true, around since 1901. Since when did
but only partially. Of course quantity and longevity equal quality?
it doesn’t guarantee the
work done will be any good. First of The problematic people
all, who is anyone? Is that anyone as The social web has definitely made
in everyone? Or anyone you know? a huge step in the way of trying to
Or anyone you believe is capable? solve some of these problems. It’s
And where is anywhere? Anywhere pretty easy to set up collaboration – Is it possible to have those ‘coffee
with an internet connection? You tools. There’s something for chats’ in a different way?
catch my drift. And of course, it’s a everybody – wikis, document – Can they communicate online and
whole different story when you put management, social networks, web in real life?
these thoughts together within the conferencing, teleconferencing. – How can every team member use
world of testing. All these tools and technology the technology consistently and
would have cost you a (small) fortune effectively? / F X T
7 J F X T
4 U S B U F H Z
. B O B H F N F O U
Crowd sourcing a few years ago (if they even existed).
There are so many people out there Now they can be used for free or for The answers
who want to work and make money. very reasonable costs. The problem I don’t have the answers. Who does? $ B T F T U V E J F T B O E 0 Q J O J P O 1 J F D F T
Some clever and productive people in the past used to be the technology. I do believe that baby steps help. As
too. Problem is that great, talented However, now the problem comes does the freedom to experiment to
and hard workers are few and far down to people and the psychology understand what will and won’t work.
between. behind getting people to work better Of course, taking a reality check that
9 % 3 ) A M I N T H E 5 + A N D ) W O U L D L I K E T O R E C E I V E A . 0 / 5 ) 4 6 # 4 $ 3 * 1 5 * 0 / S I X I S S U E S T O 7 J U " - - A G A Z I N E A T A C O S T O F a
uTest is probably the most widely and adapt to change. we are (mostly) working with other
9 % 3 ) A M / V E R S E A S A N D ) W O U L D L I K E T O R E C E I V E A . 0 / 5 ) 4 6 # 4 $ 3 * 1 5 * 0 / S I X I S S U E S T O 7 J U " - - A G A Z I N E A T A C O S T O F a
recognised crowd sourcing testing We mustn’t forget that things are people won’t do you any harm.
company. Mob4Hire is another changing so fast at the moment. Not
) E N C L O S E A C H E Q U E F O R a 5 + a / V E R S E A S 0 A Y A B L E T O - E D I A , T D
company that specialises in the only do people naturally fight against
0 L E A S E I N V O I C E M Y C O M P A N Y F O R a 5 + a
mobile area. Of course there are other change, but work and technology life
sites that aren’t testing specific, such is changing so fast that it’s a job in 0 U R C H A S E / R D E R . U M B E R
3 I G N A T U R E
as oDesk. itself to keep up with everything.
The social web has 4 I T L E & U L L . A M E
Quality Figuring things out
definitely made a huge
* O B 4 I T L E # O M P A N Y
The problem with many of the above We have the technology. Now we just step in the way of trying
services is that it is difficult to truly need to figure out how to make it all
! D D R E S S
to solve some of these
understand the people behind the work with people.
computer. Yes there can be stats, – How do we find the best people in
problems. It’s pretty easy
0 O S T # O D E
good feedback, bad feedback, a the field?
to set up collaboration 4 E L & A X
history, a profile description. Isn’t – How can we be confident they are tools. There’s something
% M A I L 1 V [ X Q Z I \ Q W V N W Z \ P M U W L M Z V J ] [ Q V M [ [
that really just like a CV? How do we as good as they say?
for everybody – wikis,
get the equivalent of an interview, or – What are their strengths or
3 I G N A T U R E $ A T E X X X W J U B M N B H O F U
document management,
perhaps a chat over a cuppa? weaknesses?
Many freelance-focused sites boast – How do they fit into the rest of
social networks,
about how many members they have. the team? web conferencing,
Rosie Sherry
* G Z P V I B W F O P U B M S F B E Z T V C T D S J C F E U I F O W J T J U X X X W J U B M N B H O F U U P E P X O M P B E B T V C T D S J Q U J P O
Founder & community manager
They say they are the largest, that – Do we trust them?
teleconferencing.
The Software Testing Club
www.softwaretestingclub.com
G P S N P S T J N Q M Z D P N Q M F U F U I F G P S N C F M P X B O E G B Y U P
P S Q P T U U P . F E J B
$ S B X M F Z
they have thousands or millions of – Are they reliable?
# V T J O F T T $ F O U S F
4 U F Q I F O T P O 8 B Z
$ S B X M F Z
8 F T U 4 V T T F Y
3 ) 5 / * G Z P V B M S F B E Z T V C T D S J C F U I F O X I Z O P U
T.E.S.T | June 09
- E D I A W I L L K E E P Y O U U P T O D A T E W I T H O U R O W N P R O D U C T S A N D O F F E R S I N C L U D I N G 6 I T ! , - A G A Z I N E ) F Y O U D O N O T W I S H T O R E C E I V E T H I S I N F O R M A T I O N P L E A S E W R I T E T O T H E # I R C U L A T I O N - A N A G E R A T T H E A D D R E S S G I V E N
Q B T T U I J T G P S N U P B O
0 L E A S E T I C K
Z D P M M F
H E R
B
E
H V F T
■ I F Y O U D O
Z P V G
N O T W I S H T
F F M X
O R
P V M E C F O F m
E C E I V E R E L E V A N T B U S I N E S
U G S P N S
S I N F O R M A T I O N F R
F D F J W J O H U I F J S
O M O T H E R C A R E F U L L Y
P X O D
S E L E C T E D C
P Q Z
O M P A N I E S
P G 7 J U " - . B H B [ J O F
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