iLAB - Software Testing, Project Management, Quality and IT Governance

Employer of Choice

iLAB strives to be an employer of choice and carefully screen applicants to select only the pick of the crop. Our culture is quality driven and commitment. We do however foster a diverse work force and encourage individualism and exceptional thinking.

Where services are delivered at customer sites iLAB employees are expected to adopt the culture of the customer without sacrificing values such as independence and integrity.

We treasure our talent and invest in their development and well-being. Our generous training and development programme invites all staff members to realise their career plans.

Testing

Testing has become a highly respected and well-rewarded profession, with broad scope for specialisation, into a technical or management streams.

The testing team is granted opportunities to make significant contributions to iLAB and their respective customers’ business. Rewards can include exponential career growth and wide influence. The optimal skill-set for testing resources are defined as:

Behavioral Skills

‘Test to Break’ attitude
Ability to understand customers point of view
Strong desire for quality
Attention to detail
Diplomacy

Technical Skills

Familiarity with the software development process
In depth knowledge of the testing life cycle
Proficient in testing methods
Competent in defect management
Ability to quickly grasp the customers’’ business functions and application systems
Excellent communication; both verbal and written
Good Business writing
Team orientated and interactive skills (on all levels)
Understanding the authority to withstand pressures and say ‘No’ to managers when quality is insufficient or quality assurance (QA) processes are not being adhered to
Strong documentation and reporting skills towards quality record-keeping

Project Management

Project managers come from many disparate backgrounds and offer a combination of skills. Whilst there is a cross-disciplinary framework within project management, the body of knowledge is nevertheless continually changing. iLAB positions project managers and related positions within a selected customer base only. These individuals usually become part of the customer’s project and / or structure and would adhere to the customer’s project management methodology. The positions is this category is long term of nature.

We do however maintain a close relationship with our project managers in order to ensure a high quality work products and include these individuals in learning opportunities. The technical skills for project management resources are defined as:

Project methodologies
Planning (as PERT, CPM and Gantt techniques)
Risk assessment
Financial appraisal (such as NPV, ROI)
Quality assurance
Quantitative metrics (statistical techniques)
Customer relations and feedback
Programs management
Configuration management
Data models and software related products
Controls, measurement and reporting.

Behavioural Skills

These competencies are the most valuable skill-set of a project manager and require time and experience to master. Behavioural skills are important pathways to delivering successful projects. Unlike technical (hard) skills, behavioural (soft) skills can take years of experience before they are proficiently developed.

Suggested soft skills set for project managers are:

Communication skills
Creativity skills
Interaction skills
Judgment skills
Leadership skills
Listening skills
Motivation skills
Political / Cultural skills
Presentation skills
Time management skills.

Site Management

Our services are delivered from customer sites, and 90% of the sites are involved in software testing. Site Managers are primarily relationship and service delivery managers, responsible for the success at the site in terms of quality of service, resources, processes and financial performance.

We expect of site managers to be fully proficient in test management and general business management. Their required skill-set include:

Behavioural Skills

Leadership and relationship building
Strong communication and interaction
Deadline driven without losing the quality connection
Focused on the team to proactively motivate, counsel, develop as appropriate
Customer service driven
Committed to quality at all times
Integrity and independence

Technical Skills

Customer business knowledge, being structures, functions and systems
Project management and test process management
Knowledge of the software development life cycle
Testing methodology and tools
Solid reporting

Competency Centres

iLAB has invested in three competency centres, being:

Quality Management
Service Engineering for Testing
Technical Engineering.

Individuals staffing the competency centres are selected with great care and developed to provide expertise to the delivery organisation. They act as enablers for quality of service to the external customers by providing an assurance and advisory role to all Sites and Business Units within iLAB. The service to external customers is primarily indirect but could include awareness presentations to customers on emerging trends.

Their competency skill-set is diverse in order to collectively provide the full spectrum for a world class testing organisation. It could typically include:

Proficiency in appropriate ISO standards such as ISO 9001, 12207, 9126, 27001, 20000, 17025
In depth knowledge in test methodologies, including process development with reference to appropriate IEEE standards
Competent in testing tools and development
Knowledge of test laboratory management
Experience in business governance and strategies
Excellent communication, interaction and presentation skills
Exceptional analytical skill-set.