Test Manager - shared role or not?

mikelau13

On the ITIL books that I am reading now, one saying that validation and test manager role should not be combined with release and deployment manager. However another book saying that validation and test manager should be an independent (not shared) role, i.e. not combined with any other roles at all.

Which one is correct?

Claire Agutter

Hi Mike

I'm not sure if you've copied those correctly - your statements say:

1) V&T manager should not be combined with R&D
2) V&T should be independent

Both are saying the same thing and are correct - impartiality is an important part of the testing role.

Kind regards

Claire

mikelau13

Hi Claire,

Thx for the reply.

(1) was talking about can share but except for R&E, for example, V&T can share still share with Change Evaluation
(2) however was saying NO sharing with all other roles - must be independent. For example V&T + Change Evaluation is wrong.



Mike

mikelau13

On one hand, I can imagine why it is possible that some methodology/framework would suggest not to mix test managers with any other roles to avoid conflict of interest - because ultimately speaking, test teams can test any documentations (contract, strategy, design etc) by doing at least static testing.

But on the other hand, there is one question in the mock exam it was talking about how roles were combined together.

So now I am confused.

Claire Agutter

Hi Mike

I think this is probably confusion from the way that the books are written - I know what they mean, but it's not expressed particularly clearly.

My take on this would be:

1) There are some roles that should not be shared by the same person - for example, R&D and V&T or incident management and problem management.
2) The V&T role must be independent. This doesn't mean the person in charge for V&T can't share other roles - they can. However, they can't share any roles that might interfere with the independence of the testing. So the person in charge of V&T could maybe also have a configuration management role, as that wouldn't interfere with the independence of any testing taking place.

I hope that makes sense and I'm not just adding to the confusion The ITIL books aren't always clear in the way they express ideas, I know it's especially hard for some of our delegates who are also English as a second language.

Claire

mikelau13

Oh ok that's much more clear, thx for the explanation Clarie!

Claire Agutter

My pleasure, I'm glad it made sense