UK Tester Forums

During a discussion on tester skill sets at the TMF on 30/04/2008 it struck me that there was a cord with Becker's theory on specific and general training: In his seminal article on investment in human capital, Becker (1962) defined completely general training as a human capital investment that raises a worker's productivity at other employers to the same extent as at the employer that provides the training. Similarly, completely specific training is defined as a human capital investment that increases productivity only at the employer that provides the training. In this context subject matter expertise is often very "specific" knowledge which is not easily transferable whereas e.g. knowledge of test techniques is of a general nature. Testers will perceive that acquiring "general" skills is more desirable and lucrative than "specific" skills which can become redundant. Stuart Reid said that employers cannot put a value on subject matter knowledge. I argue that whatever value they give will be quite different to the employee's valuation.
Martin Jamieson.