Interview of Josephine Attala P.Ledesma - QA Manager, Air Cargo IT Solutions

Can you tell us brief introduction about yourself?
I am a Quality Assurance Manager, Test Analyst, Business Analyst and a Trainer rolled into one. I started my career as a Credit Policy Analyst and then transferred to the Branch office to fill up the position of New Accounts clerk in a Commercial Bank. I got a breakthrough to work for the world’s leading Semiconductor Company in 1995 to join the Manufacturing team. It’s from operations where I started to learn the passion for Quality Improvement being an active member of the Process Control team for Manufacturing, which later paved way for me to take more responsibilities and challenges and take active roles of becoming a Technical Training Officer, Manufacturing Systems Engineer and Operations Business Analyst. Most of the projects I have lead and implemented are focused on inventory management system such as Materials SAP/R3, Advanced Planning Solutions and In-house Cycle Count tools. I also piloted the Manufacturing Quality and Financial Audit Compliance readiness team for Risk Management Analysis, ISO9000 Certifications and Corporate Financial Audit ensuring critical success indicators for Quality and Inventory management are met by Operations. I have shifted to full software testing in the year 2004 as I really wanted to focus in IT Solutions and pursue my passion for Quality Assurance Testing. I did Quality Assurance testing for multiple projects / applications on various platforms for Client Based and Web Based applications such as Multi Loans Application, Insurance System, SAP-R3/CRM/ECC/Portal and Siebel Enterprise/Industry Application and Microsoft CRM. Currently, I’m the QA Manager for development project which is focused in Air Cargo IT Solutions. What balances my professional career though is my career as a wife to my loving husband and a mother to my two wonderful kids.

What is your role and responsibilities in your work place?
I'm currently the QA Manager and my responsibilities entail team management, quality assurance, and process improvement conceptualization s to ensure continuous improvement in our Development and Testing process.

How does your day start and how does your day end? What all do you do in a day that corresponds to testing?
My day starts with a simple prayer of thanking the lord for giving me today as a gift. In the workplace, I start my daily activities by checking emails for whatever critical items needing my attention. Then, I have a minute or two to discuss with my team members on issues that they may need or ask them update on their tasks. Then, I’ll check what the priorities are for the day and what we need to do to meet them. In most cases, when we have test execution activities, I myself have assigned modules to test. It’s actually a balance of 20% Management and 80% testing activities.

What are the qualities required for a Good Software Test Engineer?
Firstly, you should have a strong desire for quality and attention to detail. For me, to be able to do that, you must love and like what you are doing. Secondly, you should have the right attitude. Imagine that the system is broken and it’s your job to find that broken piece. Thirdly, tester should always be sceptical and take- nothing at face value. He/she should always ask "why" and seek clarification either from documentation or from the subject matter expert. Finally, he should have the customers’ perspective and the ability to act with diplomacy and tact to ensure smooth relationship with developers, testers, clients and the rest of the people involved in the project. Customer Orientation, Results Orientation, Teamwork, Discipline, Quality, Risk Taking are the values and discipline a Good Software Test Engineer must have.

As a Test Engineer, What are the scripting languages should learn?
I think VBScripting and Java Scripting will be very beneficial to learn especially if you will be doing some Automation Testing.

What is the future of software testing in current economic crisis?
Software testing will always have a future as there will never be a case of a bug free system. As long as there are developers doing development, software testing will always be required.

What is Agile Testing?
Agile Testing is a methodology that entails close collaboration between the client, test writer and the developers to ensure test scripts are robust and can be rapidly created. It’s emphasis is more on the perspective of the customer who will use the system. Testing is also focused on iterative tests based on features that were completed until quality is achieved according to customer’s perspective.

How it will be useful for a Software Tester?
It will be useful in the sense that this is a shift from the usual methodologies adapted in traditional testing. It makes a Software Tester more customer-oriented and the also improves his soft skills such as becoming more collaborative with the developer or the client. Since in Agile the documentation is limited, the focus is more on the development of robust test scenarios which enable the Software tester to fully develop his testing skills.

How you find www.qualitytesting.info?
It's a very good portal for Software Testing professional to interact and share ideas. I just love the fact that people are very open and willing to share ideas and help one another understand and learn new things.

How much you will give rating from 1 to 10 (1 is least and 10 is highest)?
I give it an 8, I think we QT still have opportunities to improve.

Which feature you like more on QT?
I like the different forums.

Why?
Each forum has a focus in terms of what kind of information to share with everyone.

Any message to Quality Testing (QT) Members?
Keep up the Good work! Never get tired of sharing good information and ideas to others.

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Dear Members,

We wish her all the best in professional and personal life.

-QT Moderator