A Turning Point?

I read the following in an Opinion by Michael H. Hugos:

The IT profession is at a turning point. One sizable group of IT practitioners already knows what needs to be done. Another continues to apply the same old ways of doing things that result in the same old horrendously expensive systems that often don't work. What differentiates one group from the other? The manner in which they perceive and respond to complexity.

People not skilled in the use of effective techniques for dealing with complexity usually fall back on the use of clumsy, slow-moving, bureaucratic ways of doing things. In most situations, these approaches aren't up to the challenge. They fail, and the reputation of the IT profession is tarnished each time that happens.

So, which way will IT go as a profession? Every successful profession must develop a set of core techniques that enable its practitioners to succeed in their endeavors most of the time. We can allow ourselves to be intimidated by complexity and cling to ineffectual, bureaucratic approaches that give us a reputation as a bunch of not-so-lovable screw-ups. Or we can rise to the challenge and become practitioners of a profession respected for its ability to apply technology effectively in complex situations.

When I read this, I thought of specifically of software testing and where we are today. While I don't know if any of us really knows what needs to be done, there are many of us who continue to "apply the same old ways of doing things that result in the same old horrendously expensive systems." I see it more then I like, and many times I don't know how to fix the problem.

For me, I have a set of principles that I try to follow, but I'm still struggling to develop my "set of core techniques that enables (me) to succeed in (my) endeavors most of the time." I suspect I'll continue to develop those techniques over time, but at the same time I'm developing mine, I think we as an industry are still developing ours.