People & Teams

Conference Presentations

Explaining Testing to Anybody

Developers, management, and marketing people are clients of the testing process, but they don't know much about it. This ignorance of testing can often lead to decisions that make it harder for testers to do good work. That is why it is helpful to have rapid ways to explain testing issues. Hear some general "three-minute analogies" and "elevator speeches" that will help you explain why testing can be so time-consuming, difficult, and uncertain.
James Bach, Satisfice, Inc.
It Depends: Deciding on the Correct Ratio of Developers to Testers

Some people think there is a specific answer to the question, "What is the correct staffing ratio for developers to testers in a software development organization?" Usually, though, the only right answer is, "It depends." The answer you need depends on your situation: what you are doing, how quickly you are trying to do it, the culture you work in, and the results you desire and can tolerate. Explore the analysis involved to decide on your correct staffing ratios.
Johanna Rothman, Rothman Consulting Group, Inc.
Outsourcing the Software Testing Effort: A Negotiating Checklist

This presentation raises several of the issues involved in partial or complete outsourcing of the software testing effort. Attorney Cem Kaner presents his negotiating checklist, including how to evaluate the costs, benefits, and risks of test outsourcing. Learn how to effectively use an outsourcer's staff with your testing projects.
Cem Kaner, J.D., Ph.D., Florida Tech
Manage Testing by the Numbers

Telcordia's Software Quality Assurance Testing Organization Business Model was developed to assist its SQA Testing Management Team in becoming more effective and productive in managing SQA testing. Learn how the implementation of this model can help raise the overall technical expertise of your test management team.
Sharon Burrell, Telcordia Technologies
Trimming the Test Suite: Using Coverage Analysis to Minimize Re-Testing

Coverage Analysis System (CAS) data is often useful in determining that enough tests have been written, and identifying C-code lines that have no test coverage. In this presentation, Jim Boone explores various methods that use CAS data to determine the best set of automated tests to execute for a corrected defect. Learn the strengths, weaknesses, and best stage for using each method.
Jim Boone, SAS, Institute, inc.
Equilibrium in Managing Outsourced Testing

Even organizations with internal QA departments often have to rely on outsourced testing resources for some jobs. The first time you do this, you may make a lot of mistakes as well as learn a great deal. Jeff Jewell relates the lessons learned from his company's first experience in managing a project with contract testers. Learn what you can do to get the most from external testers and ensure that the quality of the product meets your internal expectations.
Jeff Jewell, Navigant International Inc.
Test Metrics Without Tears

The profile of testing has been raised significantly in the last few years, largely due to Year 2000 issues. Organizations accept that they need to systematically and thoroughly test software, and they are demanding the same levels of efficiency that are expected from all other areas of their businesses. Now it is necessary to provide evidence that the activities of the test team are an effective and efficient use of staff. Learn how such evidence can be obtained and reported with minimal overhead on testing resources.
David Vaughan, The SIM Group
Changing the Software Culture

Many of software's current problems stem from the pervasive culture of software organizations. This "hacker" culture glorifies rapid coding, is schedule-driven, and objects to measurement and planning. Commitments are generally missed while quality is unmeasured and unmanaged. In this presentation, Watts Humphrey describes steps to change the current software culture and its consequences. Learn how the Personal Software Process (PSP) and Team Software Process (TSP) guide engineers in planning and measuring their work. Explore the benefits of following a defined, planned, and measured process and the guidelines for making these practices more general in software organizations.
Watts Humphrey, The Software Engineering Institute
Managing Business Dynamics for Software Developers

Managing a software development project is a complex mix of many forces--market expectations, the development process, product legacy, people skills, timelines, and budget. While several of these factors may be independent or even uncontrollable, they need to be factored together for success. This is the ultimate challenge of a development manager. Using several scenarios of market and production evolution, Ram Chillarege illustrates these business dynamics. Learn to manage business dynamics through strategies while avoiding misconceptions and common traps.
Ram Chillarege, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center
Management of Outsourcing--How to Avoid Common Mistakes

One of the most challenging areas of software management is encountered in the first year after an outsourcing contract is signed. Carol Dekkers discusses the actions that can be taken by both implementation teams to ease the transition and to achieve outsourcing success. Learn of the common mistakes made involving personnel, measurement, and expectations, and obtain recommendations to increase the transition to a successful partnership.
Carol Dekkers, Quality Plus Technologies, Inc.

Pages

StickyMinds is a TechWell community.

Through conferences, training, consulting, and online resources, TechWell helps you develop and deliver great software every day.