As an ICT service provider within the Deutsche Bahn AG, DB Systel GmbH has since 2006 placed emphasis on the ISTQB® Certified Tester training courses. From a total of 80 software testers working for the company, 52 have in the meantime been certified with the Foundation Level certificate, and another 16 will follow suit in the course of this year (2008). In addition, 12 employees have already passed the Advanced Level certification. The operational area for these specialists is classical; they mainly perform the technical and functional system testing in software development and maintenance projects.

Why did DB Systel GmbH decide to invest in this training? The answer is simple - standardisation. Across the company, the organisation is in the process of standardising and streamlining its IT processes, and therefore also the quality assurance. To this end, the testing of software will also receive a uniform and standardised procedure which is based on the common use of terminology with clearly defined technical terms. The training scheme of the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB®) was not a difficult choice, since this has internationally achieved wide acceptance as the most widespread standard in software testing.

Experience proves that the DB Systel GmbH is right. The organisation mainly benefits in four areas:

• The use of technical terms in software testing has become standardised. The communication within projects and beyond has become more precise and fluent.
• In the area of software testing, an improvement process across the projects is becoming evident as the employees gradually implement the know-how acquired in the courses.
• DB Systel GmbH can serve its customers better and secure orders. In fact, the benefits of the ISTQB® Certified Tester qualification have meanwhile become so well known that customers specifically request these specialists. In some cases, the employment of certified testers has become a precondition and requirement.
• The employees themselves benefit: The certificate they hold proves a high level of knowledge in the field of software testing. With this knowledge, the employees are in a position to solve high-value challenges, e.g. the management of entire test teams. This opens up excellent perspectives for their personal advancement and career planning.

• DB Systel GmbH
  Kleyerstraße 27
  D-60326 Frankfurt am Main
  
• E-Mail: Michael.Bangel@bahn.de