TWST4 – Deception and Self-deception – Day One

The 4th annual TWST (Toronto Workshop in Software Testing) was held last weekend. This year’s focusing topic was deception and self-deception in software testing. Rather than break down the presentations on a person-by-person basis like I did last year I have broken down my notes by day.

Here are my notes from Day One

Self deception is more common than deliberate deception
There is often a difference between the corporate ‘standard’ and the corporate ‘practice’
A primary form of deception is placating the target audience
An intentional deception; intentional withholding of material information
Deception awareness dependent on project perspective
Arguments that are confident and full of emotion are easier to deceive with than those with details and accuracy
Deceptive environments can manifest physically. I can’t stomach this
Deception, when used as a buffer could be considered a useful thing
However, the biggest lie of them all is ‘I know what is best for you’
Testers are not the cops, they are the reporters. Of course, in this metaphor the code is the corpse
Not seeing the elephant in the room is different than not acknowledging it
Lying is more complicated than telling the truth
Visionaries see things differently. Though they may appear to be engaged in self deception they view the world through different filters and so might not be.
Things do not have intrinsic purposes. Purpose only occurs when people are involved
Self-deception is often just a different take on the observable facts
When you exactly hit your numbers week after week, then look for ‘dry labbing’ – Doug Hoffman
Are you measuring to control, or measuring to observe?
Some things you cannot count. That’s fine, but can you observe it?
A great response to ‘I do not know’ is ‘Well, if you did know?’
Economic pressure is an interesting factor on whether or not to participate in deception (to keep one’s job for instance)
For every degree you purchase, you get an optionally free education