Stop Looking for the Perfect All-Round Tester.

Testing of a large-scale and complex software system requires many types of knowledge, skills and personality traits. Contrasting the idea of a perfect all-round tester, this paper presents the Testing Hopscotch model with six complementary profiles, and the key characteristics considered as most relevant for each profile. The model is based on 60 interviews with engineers from three large-scale companies in different industry segments. The Testing Hopscotch model was well received by three focus groups including 22 participants, which further strengthens the validity of the model.