{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,3]],"date-time":"2026-06-03T05:02:49Z","timestamp":1780462969838,"version":"3.54.1"},"publisher-location":"Cham","reference-count":32,"publisher":"Springer International Publishing","isbn-type":[{"value":"9783319916019","type":"print"},{"value":"9783319916026","type":"electronic"}],"license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2018,1,1]],"date-time":"2018-01-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1514764800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title><jats:p>\nOne important discussion in the software development field is related to the skills that people need to have to build successful software products. This debate is generated on one hand by a large number of failures and delays of software projects. On the other hand, the debate is triggered by the need to build even better-quality software in a rapidly changing world. We will examine to which extent soft skills are relevant when hiring software testers and if there are any specific skills required for agile testers.<\/jats:p><jats:p>We analyzed 400 job advertisements for testers from 33 countries, out of which 64% ask for soft skills. Of the advertisements asking for soft skills, there is, on average, a request for 5 soft skills, 11 testing skills, and 5 technical skills. Only 30% of the companies ask explicitly for agile testers. However, our analysis shows no notable differences in skill demands for agile testers and the rest.<\/jats:p><jats:p>Software companies want to hire testers who can communicate well and have analytical and problem-solving skills. There is a significant increase in the need for openness and adaptability, independent-working and team-playing since 2012. In addition, there are new categories of soft skills identified, such as having work ethics, customer-focus and the ability to work under pressure.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-91602-6_4","type":"book-chapter","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,5,16]],"date-time":"2018-05-16T13:13:43Z","timestamp":1526476423000},"page":"54-67","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":39,"title":["Software Tester, We Want to Hire You! an Analysis of the Demand for Soft Skills"],"prefix":"10.1007","author":[{"given":"Raluca","family":"Florea","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Viktoria","family":"Stray","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2018,5,17]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"4_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.1145\/962081.962083","volume":"47","author":"CF Cohen","year":"2004","unstructured":"Cohen, C.F., Birkin, S.J., Garfield, M.J., Webb, H.W.: Managing conflict in software testing. Commun. ACM 47(1), 76\u201381 (2004)","journal-title":"Commun. ACM"},{"issue":"2","key":"4_CR2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1145\/1646353.1646391","volume":"53","author":"D Joseph","year":"2010","unstructured":"Joseph, D., Ang, S., Chang, R.H., Slaughter, S.A.: Practical intelligence in IT: assessing soft skills of IT professionals. Commun. ACM 53(2), 149\u2013154 (2010)","journal-title":"Commun. ACM"},{"key":"4_CR3","volume-title":"Continuous Delivery: Reliable Software Releases through Build, Test, and Deployment Automation (Adobe Reader)","author":"J Humble","year":"2010","unstructured":"Humble, J., Farley, D.: Continuous Delivery: Reliable Software Releases through Build, Test, and Deployment Automation (Adobe Reader). Pearson Education, \u200eLondon (2010)"},{"key":"4_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Nurmuliani, N., Zowghi, D., Powell, S.: Analysis of requirements volatility during software development life cycle. In: Proceedings of the 2004 Australian Software Engineering Conference. IEEE (2004)","DOI":"10.1109\/ASWEC.2004.1290455"},{"issue":"1","key":"4_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.1061\/(ASCE)1532-6748(2007)7:1(18)","volume":"7","author":"S Kumar","year":"2007","unstructured":"Kumar, S., Hsiao, J.K.: Engineers learn \u201csoft skills the hard way\u201d: planting a seed of leadership in engineering classes. Leadersh. Manag. Eng. 7(1), 18\u201323 (2007)","journal-title":"Leadersh. Manag. Eng."},{"key":"4_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"691","DOI":"10.28945\/860","volume":"2","author":"A Sukhoo","year":"2005","unstructured":"Sukhoo, A., Barnard, A., Eloff, M.M., Van der Poll, J.A., Motah, M.: Accommodating soft skills in software project management. Issues Inform. Sci. Inform. Technol. (IISIT) 2, 691\u2013703 (2005)","journal-title":"Issues Inform. Sci. Inform. Technol. (IISIT)"},{"key":"4_CR7","volume-title":"Pragmatic Software Testing: Becoming An Effective and Efficient Test Professional","author":"R Black","year":"2007","unstructured":"Black, R.: Pragmatic Software Testing: Becoming An Effective and Efficient Test Professional. Wiley, Hoboken (2007)"},{"issue":"4","key":"4_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"449","DOI":"10.1037\/0003-066X.53.4.449","volume":"53","author":"DF Halpern","year":"1998","unstructured":"Halpern, D.F.: Teaching critical thinking for transfer across domains: disposition, skills, structure training, and metacognitive monitoring. Am. Psychol. 53(4), 449 (1998)","journal-title":"Am. Psychol."},{"key":"4_CR9","series-title":"Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-33515-5_1","volume-title":"Agile Processes, in Software Engineering, and Extreme Programming","author":"S Bordin","year":"2016","unstructured":"Bordin, S., De Angeli, A.: Focal points for a more user-centred agile development. In: Sharp, H., Hall, T. (eds.) XP 2016. LNBIP, vol. 251, pp. 3\u201315. Springer, Cham (2016). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-319-33515-5_1"},{"key":"4_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rivera-Ibarra, J.G., Rodr\u00edguez-Jacobo, J., Serrano-Vargas, M.A.: Competency framework for software engineers. In: 2010 23rd IEEE Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training (CSEE&T). IEEE (2010)","DOI":"10.1109\/CSEET.2010.21"},{"issue":"7","key":"4_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.1145\/6138.6142","volume":"29","author":"RE Mayer","year":"1986","unstructured":"Mayer, R.E., Dyck, J.L., Vilberg, W.: Learning to program and learning to think: what\u2019s the connection? Commun. ACM 29(7), 605\u2013610 (1986)","journal-title":"Commun. ACM"},{"key":"4_CR12","series-title":"Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-33515-5_9","volume-title":"Agile Processes, in Software Engineering, and Extreme Programming","author":"K Kuusinen","year":"2016","unstructured":"Kuusinen, K., Petrie, H., Fagerholm, F., Mikkonen, T.: Flow, intrinsic motivation, and developer experience in software engineering. In: Sharp, H., Hall, T. (eds.) XP 2016. LNBIP, vol. 251, pp. 104\u2013117. Springer, Cham (2016). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-319-33515-5_9"},{"key":"4_CR13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Storey, M.-A.D., \u010cubrani\u0107, D., German, D.M.: On the use of visualization to support awareness of human activities in software development: a survey and a framework. In: Proceedings of the 2005 ACM symposium on Software visualization. ACM (2005)","DOI":"10.1145\/1056018.1056045"},{"key":"4_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.1016\/j.infsof.2016.09.002","volume":"80","author":"V Garousi","year":"2016","unstructured":"Garousi, V., M\u00e4ntyl\u00e4, M.V.: A systematic literature review of literature reviews in software testing. Inform. Softw. Technol. 80, 195\u2013216 (2016)","journal-title":"Inform. Softw. Technol."},{"key":"4_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"136","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jss.2014.12.010","volume":"101","author":"P Holtkamp","year":"2015","unstructured":"Holtkamp, P., Jokinen, J.P., Pawlowski, J.M.: Soft competency requirements in requirements engineering, software design, implementation, and testing. J. Syst. Softw. 101, 136\u2013146 (2015)","journal-title":"J. Syst. Softw."},{"key":"4_CR16","volume-title":"Foundations of Software Testing: ISTQB Certification","author":"D Graham","year":"2008","unstructured":"Graham, D., Van Veenendaal, E., Evans, I.: Foundations of Software Testing: ISTQB Certification. Cengage Learning EMEA, Boston (2008)"},{"key":"4_CR17","volume-title":"Effective Software Testing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Software Testing","author":"E Dustin","year":"2002","unstructured":"Dustin, E.: Effective Software Testing: 50 Ways to Improve Your Software Testing. Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Boston (2002)"},{"key":"4_CR18","volume-title":"Workforce Connections: Key \u201cSoft Skills\u201d That Foster Youth Workforce Success: Toward A Consensus Across Fields","author":"LH Lippman","year":"2015","unstructured":"Lippman, L.H., Ryberg, R., Carney, R., Moore, K.A.: Workforce Connections: Key \u201cSoft Skills\u201d That Foster Youth Workforce Success: Toward A Consensus Across Fields. Child Trends, Washington, DC (2015)"},{"issue":"1","key":"4_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1109\/MITP.2012.7","volume":"14","author":"F Ahmed","year":"2012","unstructured":"Ahmed, F., Capretz, L.F., Campbell, P.: Evaluating the demand for soft skills in software development. IT Prof. 14(1), 44\u201349 (2012)","journal-title":"IT Prof."},{"issue":"3","key":"4_CR20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"98","DOI":"10.1111\/1467-8721.ep10768783","volume":"1","author":"J Cohen","year":"1992","unstructured":"Cohen, J.: Statistical power analysis. Curr. Dir. Psychol. Sci. 1(3), 98\u2013101 (1992)","journal-title":"Curr. Dir. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"4_CR21","volume-title":"The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering, Anniversary","author":"FP Brooks Jr","year":"1995","unstructured":"Brooks Jr., F.P.: The Mythical Man-Month: Essays on Software Engineering, Anniversary, 2nd edn. Pearson Education, \u200eLondon (1995)","edition":"2"},{"issue":"1","key":"4_CR22","first-page":"69","volume":"45","author":"CR Litecky","year":"2004","unstructured":"Litecky, C.R., Arnett, K.P., Prabhakar, B.: The paradox of soft skills versus technical skills in IS hiring. J. Comput. Inform. Syst. 45(1), 69\u201376 (2004)","journal-title":"J. Comput. Inform. Syst."},{"key":"4_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1007\/0-306-47614-2_2","volume-title":"New Learning","author":"B van Hout-Wolters","year":"2000","unstructured":"van Hout-Wolters, B., Simons, R.J., Volet, S.: Active learning: self-directed learning and independent work. In: Simons, R.J., van der Linden, J., Duffy, T. (eds.) New Learning, pp. 21\u201336. Springer, Dordrecht (2000). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/0-306-47614-2_2"},{"key":"4_CR24","unstructured":"Beck, K., Beedle, M., Van Bennekum, A., Cockburn, A., Cunningham, W., Fowler, M., Grenning, J., Highsmith, J., Hunt, A., Jeffries, R.: Manifesto for Agile Software Development (2001)"},{"issue":"1","key":"4_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"58","DOI":"10.2307\/256874","volume":"42","author":"BL Kirkman","year":"1999","unstructured":"Kirkman, B.L., Rosen, B.: Beyond self-management: antecedents and consequences of team empowerment. Acad. Manag. J. 42(1), 58\u201374 (1999)","journal-title":"Acad. Manag. J."},{"key":"4_CR26","series-title":"Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-33515-5_7","volume-title":"Agile Processes, in Software Engineering, and Extreme Programming","author":"CJ Stettina","year":"2016","unstructured":"Stettina, C.J., Smit, M.N.W.: Team portfolio scrum: an action research on multitasking in multi-project scrum teams. In: Sharp, H., Hall, T. (eds.) XP 2016. LNBIP, vol. 251, pp. 79\u201391. Springer, Cham (2016). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-319-33515-5_7"},{"key":"4_CR27","series-title":"Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"274","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-57633-6_20","volume-title":"Agile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming","author":"V Stray","year":"2017","unstructured":"Stray, V., Moe, N.B., Bergersen, G.R.: Are daily stand-up meetings valuable? A survey of developers in software teams. In: Baumeister, H., Lichter, H., Riebisch, M. (eds.) XP 2017. LNBIP, vol. 283, pp. 274\u2013281. Springer, Cham (2017). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-319-57633-6_20"},{"issue":"7","key":"4_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"663","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijproman.2009.11.008","volume":"28","author":"DH Stevenson","year":"2010","unstructured":"Stevenson, D.H., Starkweather, J.A.: PM critical competency index: IT execs prefer soft skills. Int. J. Proj. Manag. 28(7), 663\u2013671 (2010)","journal-title":"Int. J. Proj. Manag."},{"key":"4_CR29","unstructured":"Turner, R., Lowry, G.: Towards a profession of information systems and technology: the relative importance of \u201chard\u201d and \u201csoft\u201d skills for IT practitioners. In: Issues and Trends of Information Technology Management in Contemporary Organizations, pp. 676\u2013678 (2002)"},{"key":"4_CR30","series-title":"Lecture Notes in Computer Science","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"458","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-49094-6_31","volume-title":"Product-Focused Software Process Improvement","author":"V Stray","year":"2016","unstructured":"Stray, V., F\u00e6gri, T.E., Moe, N.B.: Exploring norms in agile software teams. In: Abrahamsson, P., Jedlitschka, A., Nguyen Duc, A., Felderer, M., Amasaki, S., Mikkonen, T. (eds.) PROFES 2016. LNCS, vol. 10027, pp. 458\u2013467. Springer, Cham (2016). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-319-49094-6_31"},{"issue":"1 & 2","key":"4_CR31","first-page":"2017","volume":"10","author":"A Bai","year":"2017","unstructured":"Bai, A., Mork, H.C., Stray, V.: A cost-benefit analysis of accessibility testing in agile software development results from a multiple case study. Int. J. Adv. Softw. 10(1 & 2), 2017 (2017)","journal-title":"Int. J. Adv. Softw."},{"key":"4_CR32","unstructured":"Turner, R., Lowry, G.: The third dimension of the IS curriculum: the importance of soft skills for IT practitioners. In: Proceedings of ACIS 2001, p. 62 (2001)"}],"container-title":["Lecture Notes in Business Information Processing","Agile Processes in Software Engineering and Extreme Programming"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1007\/978-3-319-91602-6_4","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,13]],"date-time":"2024-03-13T18:46:18Z","timestamp":1710355578000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/978-3-319-91602-6_4"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018]]},"ISBN":["9783319916019","9783319916026"],"references-count":32,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/978-3-319-91602-6_4","relation":{},"ISSN":["1865-1348","1865-1356"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1865-1348","type":"print"},{"value":"1865-1356","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018]]},"assertion":[{"value":"17 May 2018","order":1,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ChapterHistory","label":"Chapter History"}},{"value":"XP","order":1,"name":"conference_acronym","label":"Conference Acronym","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}},{"value":"International Conference on Agile Software Development","order":2,"name":"conference_name","label":"Conference Name","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}},{"value":"Porto","order":3,"name":"conference_city","label":"Conference City","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}},{"value":"Portugal","order":4,"name":"conference_country","label":"Conference Country","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}},{"value":"2018","order":5,"name":"conference_year","label":"Conference Year","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}},{"value":"21 May 2018","order":7,"name":"conference_start_date","label":"Conference Start Date","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}},{"value":"25 May 2018","order":8,"name":"conference_end_date","label":"Conference End Date","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}},{"value":"19","order":9,"name":"conference_number","label":"Conference Number","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}},{"value":"xpu2018","order":10,"name":"conference_id","label":"Conference ID","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}},{"value":"https:\/\/www.agilealliance.org\/xp2018\/","order":11,"name":"conference_url","label":"Conference URL","group":{"name":"ConferenceInfo","label":"Conference Information"}}]}}