On the roles of software testers: An exploratory study

Abstract

Context: Software development organizations need testers with high skill levels in a broad range of technical areas and application domains. Accordingly, we need a better understanding of how testers meet such skill demands in the practice of their role. Objective: This work aims to deepen the understanding of the typical tester role. Method: We performed a thematic analysis of 19 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with software testers working in various industries. To investigate employers’ views on such roles, we conducted a thematic analysis of 400 job ads. Results: From the interviews, we identified five subroles of software testers: domain-specific tester, test automation specialist, test infrastructure specialist, user experience tester, and test manager. Most of the practitioners preferred to develop skills and act in one subrole. In contrast, most of the job ads requested that testers act in multiple subroles. Conclusion: Our findings provide a deeper understanding of the tester role, which may guide testers in their acquisition of skills and employers in the recruiting of testers.