Mike Fine - Advice from a Beta Testing Pioneer

About This Episode When it comes to writing the book on beta testing, there are few people more qualified than Mike Fine. Literally. He actually has a book on beta testing. As Senior Test Manager and co-founder here at Centercode, Mike has been in the industry for over 30 years, testing thousands of products ranging from network equipment and wellness apps to audio equipment and financial services. Mike is a fountain of knowledge, and during our conversation we covered his time at Centercode, how the platform has evolved, his top tips for recruiting testers, and what you can do to get the maximum out of your project. Mike's enthusiasm and passion for testing really shows in this episode, and we were delighted to have him on the podcast. I hope you enjoy our conversation. About Our Guest Mike Fine is an expert in quality testing, having been involved in test programs for over 30 years. Throughout his career, he's conducted and managed more than 1000 projects, written three books—including Beta Testing for Better Software—and cultivated expertise in product development, quality, testing, customer validation, service, and customer experience. He also helped found Centercode, where he's contributed to improving and refining the software and services. In his current role at the company, he supervises the management of dozens of tests a year. He's passionate about the value of customer validation and customer input into product design. Timestamps (0:00) - Intro (1:15) - Mike’s start in beta testing (5:11) - Running the gamut and how Centercode works with a multitude of product types (8:10) - What drew Mike to beta testing? (11:30) - What makes a great tester, and how to get testers energized (16:34) - Strategies for finding high quality testers, and determining how many testers you need (24:00) - Mike’s advice for teams struggling with tester recruitment (30:15) - Understanding the product is key for running a successful test (33:33) - How to overcome resilience to change and other concerns with beta tests (39:42) - The biggest hurdles to overcome when starting a new beta test (43:55) - What can make or break a beta test? (47:54) - Reflecting on 30 years of testing and constantly learning from new projects (53:21) - How has Centercode evolved over the years? Zero-Cost Resources and Guides Beta Test Planning Kit: https://bit.ly/sw_plan_kit Beta Recruitment Kit: https://bit.ly/recruit_kit Centercode Visual Theming Guide: https://bit.ly/visual_themes Beta Agreement Kit: https://bit.ly/agreement_kit The Beta Shipping Manual: https://bit.ly/ship_manual The Tester Engagement Pocket Guide: https://bit.ly/tester_map Beta Test Incentive Kit: https://bit.ly/incentives_kit Beta Test ROI Kit: https://bit.ly/beta_roi_kit The Definitive Guide to Delta Testing: https://bit.ly/guide_to_delta