Quality assurance is a holistic task, and as such it has something to do with competitive capability – for Dr. Frank Simon that’s beyond question. For holistically implemented quality assurance guarantees that software does not just “run”, but also exhibits other facets, e.g., that it is user-friendly, secure, easy to maintain, portable, efficient, etc. Those that can offer such software will gain a clear advantage for themselves and their customers in the global competition.

The master in computer science has engaged with quality assurance since his student days. In his diploma thesis he writes about the ergonomic quality of IT systems, in his doctoral thesis he deals with the technical perspective on systems.  After completion of the studies, he switched to the economy  – and with this change entered the world of software testing: Dr. Frank Simon joined SQS AG, where he first set up the business unit „Code-Quality-Management”, which today consists of over 60 employees working on a mulitude of technical aspects. In 2007, he took on his current role as departmental head and set up the department „SQS-Research“ within the Service & Product Portfolio Management unit. This business unit searches for new IT trends and requirements, evaluates these with regard to their impact on the testing business and, where appropriate, develops new services.

There is one thing that Dr. Frank Simon has since discovered time and again: „Excellent training and qualification are indispensible for sustained business success“. In order to promote this sort of training throughout the industry, and also because the ISTQB®’s holistic view of quality assurance appeals to him, Dr. Frank Simon has become involved in the GTB. He sees the association as an important institution for the training and qualification of suitable specialized personnel for holistically implemented quality assurance – and consequently as an important pillar for securing the competitiveness of software  „Tested in Germany“.

Apart from his engagement in the GTB, Dr. Frank Simon also writes a blog covering quality assurance and software tests: www.diagnostiker-blog.de.