Breaking Down Barriers: Why the Testing Community Needs Unity More Than Ever
In the world of software testing, we’ve got enough on our plates without tearing ourselves apart over the details. Yet, time and time again, we see divisions over things like “manual testing” versus “automation,” or over debates that flare up on LinkedIn, often leaving us looking fractured. It’s exhausting, and frankly, it’s holding us back from showing the true value we can bring to the wider business.
Testing isn’t just about terminology or methodology. It’s about people. It’s about collaboration. It’s about raising the bar for quality. And when we argue amongst ourselves rather than pulling together, we risk missing the bigger picture: demonstrating how testing can transform not just development processes, but entire organisations.
Why Infighting Costs Us Credibility
If you’ve spent any time on LinkedIn recently, you’ll have seen the back-and-forth arguments over what counts as “real” testing, endless debates over automation versus exploratory approaches, and even dismissive comments aimed at others in the profession. It’s disheartening, and it achieves nothing.
Imagine being a stakeholder or a leader outside of testing, scrolling past those squabbles. What impression are we leaving? That we’re more focused on defending our personal preferences than driving business value? That’s not the message we want to send. The truth is, every kind of testing has its place. Every tester brings their own unique skills and perspectives. We’re stronger because of our diversity, not in spite of it.
A Community Built on Togetherness
There’s no better example of what we can achieve when we come together than something like the Testing Peers Conference. It’s a space that thrives on inclusivity, where testers from all walks of life and those from all different “communities” within the wider testing world,. Those new to the field and seasoned veterans alike, come to share ideas, learn from each other, and build meaningful connections. There’s no judgment, no cliques, no gatekeeping, just a shared passion for quality and a desire to grow.
That sense of togetherness doesn’t have to be limited to one event or one community. It should be the foundation of everything we do as testers. By supporting one another, amplifying each other’s successes, and celebrating different approaches to the same goal, we can position ourselves as a united and invaluable asset to our organisations.
How We Move Forward
To shift the narrative and refocus on what truly matters, we need to take action together. Here are some thoughts on how we can do that:
- Celebrate All Forms of Testing: Let’s stop categorising and criticising. Whether it’s automation, exploratory testing, or performance testing, every approach has value. Embrace the variety and learn from it.
- Challenge the Stereotypes: Testing isn’t about “breaking things.” It’s about delivering quality, ensuring user satisfaction, and mitigating risk. We should constantly be sharing this message with other departments and stakeholders.
- Collaborate Across Disciplines: Our skills as testers, critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, extend well beyond “just testing.” Work with Project managers, designers, developers, and product teams to show how we can add value at every stage.
- Promote Togetherness in the Community: Whether it’s through conferences, mentoring, or simply engaging positively online, we have a responsibility to lift each other up. A community that supports and learns from one another is one that thrives.
Quality: The Bigger Picture
When we allow ourselves to get bogged down in arguments over definitions or methodologies, we’re not just hurting ourselves, we’re diminishing the value we bring to our organisations. Let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture. Testing is about delivering quality, building trust, and making a difference, not about which label we use for a certain activity.
So let’s take a page from our Testing Peers playbook: be inclusive, be supportive, and focus on what unites us. Together, we can push the profession forward, show our true worth to the wider business, and create a future where quality is at the heart of everything.
