When did you test last time?

The purpose of this interview question for test manager is to figure out how QA manager understands what QA Testers are doing. Usually Test Manager prefers to delegate testing responsibilities and focus on the big picture instead. It is explainable, because in the recent years managers responsibility has grown, test manager may have had less and less time to do the actual testing. A primary QA manager responsibility is to let QA Engineers work smoothly. In order to do that, the manager could try jumping into the testing, trying to backup testers who got sick or on vacation. Sometimes it helps, the manager could discover that there is real test impediments to complete the work on time, tester misunderstood the application, poorly designed test cases, wrongly estimated the time required for testing. The question is why Test Manager hasn't noticed these issues before personally performing test activities of testing team. Instead of jumping back and out into the actual testing, Test manager should consider other ways to get similar insight into testers work. For example, Test Manager could have more discussion with testers during one-on-one or team meetings, create performance metric, audit test results, try to pair with QA testers, drop in during testing, debrief actively and even supervise testers closely from time to time.