career development

Articles

New Skills for Software Testers and Software QA Engineers: 2013 … and Beyond!
Let's take a look into the future—all the way to the year 2013! As a software tester or software quality engineer, are you planning to learn a new skill in the new year. If you are, make sure you approach it in a way that will make that skill stick.
Management Myth #12: I Must Promote the Best Technical Person to Be a Manager
Managing requires a different skill set from technical work, yet many companies promote their best technical workers to management positions. Here are some things to consider when it's time to promote your technical workers.
Management Myth #11: The Team Needs a Cheerleader!
If you have a cheerleading manager (or, worse, if you are a cheerleading manager) in a troubled organization, then your team is likely missing its purpose. Replace those cheers with transparency, and you might be surprised by the solutions your team will come up with.
Management Myth #10: I Can Measure the Work by the Time People Spend at Work
Increasing the amount of time someone spends on work does not directly result in better work. In fact, depending on the person, the opposite may be the case—spending less time at the office may improve the results. Johanna tackles myths of measuring work by time.

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Better Software Magazine

Crowdsource Your Career
In today's tech-centric environment, there are many advantages to building a social network both online and "in real life." Here are some ideas to help you boost your career, market yourself, and add to your problem-solving toolbox by harnessing this "people power."
Book Reviews for BAs

Get a head start on your New Year's resolution. Hone your business analysis skills or learn new ones, and make 2012 the highlight of your career.

Learning For Agile Testers, Part 1

What makes testers successful on agile teams? What skills do agile testers need to enjoy an exciting career and how can they learn those skills? In part one of our "Learning for Agile Testers" series, we explain what a well-rounded agile tester ought to know–and it goes way beyond technical skills!

Small Experiments

In today's environment, we seem to have little time for either problem identification or solution implementation. What seems to work well instead (and is more fun) is to try small experiments. The idea is not to solve problems, but to try to learn in little steps.

Negotiating Our Relationships

When joining a project, your position isn't a given; you must negotiate it. Lee identifies five roles that combine to make up team relationships.

The Optimists Don't Make It Out

Optimism is normally viewed as a positive trait, but not when it comes to goals and estimates. Project managers who don their rose-colored glasses when faced with the harsh light of reality are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Which Obstacle Should You Tackle Today?
As a lead and manager, your job to remove obstacles that impede work is most important. But of all the obstacles you find, whether they be people's perceptions, bottlenecks in the work flow, or an ill-fitted chair or desk, which do you tackle first? Johanna Rothman explains how to remove the obstacles that slow, impede, or halt project work.

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Interviews

Culturally Sound Leadership: An Interview with Pollyanna Pixton
Podcast
Pollyanna Pixton shares why crafting a healthy and productive agile culture is so difficult, and how it relies heavily on the shoulders of team leaders. She stresses the importance of leaders not proving their teams with answers—but giving them the ownership to solve problems on their own.
Agile-Enabled Continuous Improvement: An Interview with Bob Galen
Agile coach Bob Galen helps teams continuously improve and avoid getting stuck, complacent, or worse—regressing. By following some essential patterns, your team will learn how to spot the warning signs that lead to regression and ensure that everyone stays productive and happy.
Building Trust and Culture in Teams: An Interview with Scott Ross

Scott Ross is presenting a session named "Leveraging Core Values for Healthier, More Productive Teams" at the 2012 Better Software Conference East. Scott shared with us the importance of maintaining a positive culture around development teams in order to keep everyone happy, healthy, and productive.

Empowerment Strategies: An Interview with Tricia Broderick
Tricia Broderick recently sat down with us ahead of her 2012 Better Software Conference East session titled "The Journey from Manager to Leader: Empowering Your Team." With more than 16 years of experience, Tricia truly has a passion for, and a strong grasp of agile principles.

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Featured Resources

» Skytap Automation Pack for Microsoft VS Team Foundation Server | Skytap
» An Innovative Approach to Integration Testing | IBM Rational
» Improve Quality and Decrease Time to Market with Requirements Management | PTC
» Cloud-Enabled Software Development and Testing | Skytap
» Performance Testing in the Cloud | J9 Technologies

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