Requirements

Conference Presentations

Introduction to Usability Testing

What is usability? Why is it important? If these questions wake you in the middle of the night, then this presentation is for you. Cheryl Nesta discusses the relevance of usability testing within the broad framework of quality assurance and appropriate expectations based on its uses and applicability. Explore methodology, process flow, goal identification, and definition. Real-world examples create a hands-on introductory experience.
Cheryl L. Nesta, Vanteon
Is a Use Case a Test Case?

This presentation draws the following conclusions:

  • Use cases are extremely effective for specifying
    functional requirements
  • Use cases unify the requirements, design, and testing
    strategies
  • Each use case is a pattern for a test case and its
    associated test procedures
  • Testing based on use cases provides primary functional
    test coverage
  • Unit testing of use case realizations, both static and
    dynamic aspects, provides additional levels of quality
    assurance
Dean Leffingwell, Rational Software
STAREAST 2001: The Power of Retrospectives to Improve Testing

Testing is a tough job! Most test professionals learn the hard way what works and what doesn't. Retrospectives are focused, facilitated reviews of a defined piece of work. Learn how software project retrospectives are used as a test process improvement technique to capture the essence of a work, provide closure, and establish a springboard for active improvement in an organization.
Esther Derby, Esther Derby Associates, Inc
Software Testing at a Silicon Valley High-Tech Software Company

This paper describes a methodology for allocating priority levels and resources to software testing and other quality activities to achieve "customer satisfaction." This methodology is based on understanding of what the market and the target users require at any point in time during the
product technology adoption life-cycle. The paper also describes the deployment by a leading market-driven company of effective software testing processes and methods that represent real-world customer issues.
Giora Ben-Yaacov and Lee Gazlay, Synopsys Inc.
Process Improvement in Large Organizations: Walking the Maze

Every problem-solving activity in an organization requires some learning. Both the stakeholders and the
facilitators of the organization need to learn as they go through change. This paper describes our first
experiences with facilitating process improvement and problem solving by focusing on congruence, building trust
relationships, systems thinking and lots of "letting go."
Nynke Fokma, Moebius Consultancy and Erwin van der Bij, Lucent Technologies
Warp 6, Mr. Sulu: The Future of Software Development

As a manager, you have many readings which help you monitor your course. Choosing a direction is a different matter. Like the crew of any Star Trek episode, you may have to make a decision based on the unknown. The best choice may not be based on what you know-but what is possible. For years we have built software in roughly the same way. Becky Winant discusses an emerging new discipline sitting on the horizon-complete with higher-level communication tools, practical knowledge capture, and advanced simulation software-that is poised and ready to change the face of software development as we know it.
Becky Winant, Esprit Systems Consulting, Inc.
Gaps, Traps, and Overlaps: Communication Flaws and How to Fix Them

In some organizations, communication flaws are rampant and muddled messages are the norm. Success in software efforts is often hindered by communication that is incomprehensible, ambiguous, misdirected, ill-timed--or lacking when it is most needed. The result? Rocky relationships, topsy-turvy teamwork, precarious projects, and crazed customers. The situation is not hopeless, though. In fact, making changes is surprisingly easy. In a presentation that is both serious and light-hearted, Naomi Karten shares ideas, experiences, and advice to help you detect, correct, and prevent some of the most common communication snafus.
Naomi Karten, Karten Associates
The Story Software Defects Tell about Project Management

We often evaluate and design software processes and activities as if putting them on lists and schedules will automatically make them happen. Yet software development also includes complex human interactions that must be planned and managed in order to gain best results, or to even survive. Drawing upon over one hundred candid engineers' comments from twenty root-cause analysis brainstorming sessions of frequently occurring defects, Bob Grady reveals fascinating insights into project management backgrounds, methods, training, and weaknesses. Into these insights, he weaves the use of personality preferences with project management methods to help you avoid common pitfalls in ways that engineers themselves prefer.
Robert Grady, Hewlett-Packard Co., Retired
eXtreme Programming Meets Measurement

With the Internet explosion creating new "e-somethings" daily, and society embracing X-anything, it should come as no surprise that eXtreme Programming is the latest concept to hit IT. Forget the visions of IT managers projecting themselves off a cliff with bungee cords and a laptop-eXtreme Programming is more mainstream than renegade, offering a mixture of old and new, tried and true all bundled into one. Learn what eXtreme Programming is all about and how it differs from other development methodologies. Discover what can and should be measured in an eXtreme Programming environment and how to fit X-Measures in with a regular measurement program.
Carol Dekkers, Quality Plus Technologies, Inc.
Facilitated Workshops in Software Development Projects

To build planning and requirements products quickly and efficiently, consider using facilitated workshops. In your workshops, participants should be active, engaged,
committed and task-oriented. A well-run workshops builds trust and mutual understand among all the participants. Workshops are not new, but are proven best practices in
software development. They can go a long way not only in product delivery, but also in building a "jelled" team.
Ellen Gottesdiener, EBG Consulting, Inc.

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