testing

When does a groove become a rut? Elisabeth Hendrickson has experienced both grooves and ruts while testing a seemingly endless software project or series of projects. Here she explores the subtle slippery slope from groove to rut. She also discusses common causes. Once you fall in, Elisabeth has some pointers to help you climb out.

We've all heard the pitch: test automation saves testing time and resources. Test tools can execute tests faster than a person can, and in most cases they can do so in an unattended mode. So test automation should reduce test cycle time or the number of testers needed. Right? Not exactly. But Linda Hayes will tell you what it does save.

Bugs that make a system crash are the most dramatic, but they may not be the most interesting. Subtle bugs hide where you don't expect them, causing systems to mislead users with incorrect results. Using scientific inquiry, you can expose these deceptive ne'er-do-wells lurking inconspicuously under the covers. Elisabeth Hendrickson offers good examples and pointers to using this investigative method.

Are you a project manager or test manager who feels like you're in constant motion? While your team works on products, your week is likely filled with meetings, conference calls, email, analysis, and consultation. But when your efforts have more to do with team performance and avoiding disasters than a tangible product, how can you measure what you've done in a concrete way?