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EuroSTAR Conference

Europe's Largest Quality Engineering Conference

Track Talk W12

Empathy in Software Testing: Putting People First in a Software-Driven World

Ben Simo

13:45-14:45 Wednesday 12th June

Software has become an omnipresent actor in society. It is no longer just for “technical” people but an integral part of modern life. This talk explores the vital role of empathy in software testing and the relationships people have with the software we test.

Software is for people. It has the potential to bring joy, yet it often injects frustration. In the pursuit of “done”, it’s easy for software creators and testers to lose sight of their work’s impact on real people. Our users’ experiences with software impacts their lives – for better and for worse. Software testing is not only about the technology. It is about people.

Few people use software for the sake of using software. Most use software in pursuit of goals that were once met without software — being entertained, managing finances, staying connected, or planning a vacation. Sometimes people use software under duress to comply with authorities. The software we test often plays an influential role in people’s lives. Therefore, it’s crucial to practice empathy. This involves considering users’ perspective and emotional state when we design tests, identify bugs, and advocate for improvement.

We can shift towards a more people-centered approach, recognizing that anything that bugs someone may be a bug. We can help our organizations deliver software that not only functions correctly but also fosters positive relationships. This is the heart of quality.

What you will learn

  1. Learn about the role of empathy in software testing, and the relationships people have with the software we test
  2. See how you can shift towards a more people-centered approach
  3. Deliver software that not only functions correctly, but also fosters positive relationships

Session Details

  • Introductory
  • 1 Hour
  • Includes 20mins Discussion
  • Communication
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Check out this video from Full Name to hear more about his talk, ‘Speaker’s Talk Title’.

We look forward to welcoming you to EuroSTAR 2024.

Session Speaker

Headshot of EuroSTAR 2024 speaker Ben Simo

Ben Simo

Product Manager – Tricentis, USA

Ben Simo is a context-driven software quality leader who has been helping make software better for over 30 years. Ben has applied his skills as an analyst, software tester, designer of testing tools, and quality coach, in a variety of industries including: healthcare, finance, defense, education, marketing, ecommerce, and cloud services. Ben’s approach to software testing transcends the common notion of merely verifying explicit expectations. He believes good testing includes observational and experimental investigation, that enables people to make better decisions that lead to delivering better software — software that positively impacts people’s lives. While he believes testing is a fundamentally human activity that cannot be fully automated, automation plays an essential role in his testing work.

Ben is perhaps best known as the “sort of skilled hacker” who uncovered and reported numerous problems with the initial release of the US Government’s health insurance marketplace: Healthcare.gov. Ben is currently exploring and creating the testing tools of the future as a researcher and product manager at Tricentis.

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