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Articles

Can a ScrumMaster Be an Effective Leader When Working Remotely?
Mariya Breyter explores the role of a ScrumMaster and whether or not one can work effectively when working remotely. If the ScrumMaster is not available to orchestrate product delivery, bridge any gaps, and remove any obstacles, a product will never be delivered—even worse, a wrong product will be delivered. In order to achieve this understanding, the ScrumMaster must show value to the team as a natural leader, no matter if he is onsite or remote.
A Software Team's Journey to Agile
Did you ever wonder if a team needs some prerequisites before transitioning to agile? In this true story, John Lynch shows us the story of a team who teetered on the brink of dysfunction, and then was able to create its foundation so team members could begin their agile transition.
What Position Do You Play?
Micheleen Merritt explains that as an agile coach, you need to take in account all of the participants of a team, not just the developers. If you aren’t acknowledging the quality assurance analysts, business analysts, and product owners, you aren’t coaching the whole team.
Snapshot: A Team’s First Steps into Shared Ownership
Karen Favazza Spencer writes of the time her team members had to modernize and expand the capabilities of their legacy system. In this situation, Karen took on the role of ScrumMaster, implemented several helpful agile techniques, and empowered the team to share leadership of the project with management.

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Better Software Magazine

The Four Horsemen of the Testing Apocalypse
Much like the biblical horsemen of Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death, the "Four Horsemen of the Testing Apocalypse" ride into our lives and work bearing great challenges. If the software of tomorrow is to be better than the software of today, we must face these foes directly.
Don’t Bury the Survivors: The Value of Clear Communication
Whether you’re discussing software defects with your test team, analyzing requirements with your BA, or programming in your favorite new language, communication is essential. Lanette Creamer has some tips to help you communicate clearly with any audience.
Making Beautiful Music—The Art of Small Teams
In a jazz combo, each member of the team has a specialty. As the members play individually, they create a tapestry of music that becomes much greater than the sum of the individual contributions. A small development team also works best this way.
Controlled Flight into Terrain
Entering a holding pattern on a project can give you the opportunity to gather additional information about a problem. But, sometimes, holding consumes valuable resources with disastrous consequences.
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."
Testing Terms You Really Need
Anyone interested in finding a testing glossary that already exists can use some great online resources. Defined here are several terms in common use that rarely or never make it into the "official" definitions. Finally, there are some terms in use that no longer support the underpinning technology and need to be either retired or expanded.
How Do You Know When It's Time To Go?
Whether you are in a toxic work situation, or you feel you are no longer performing effectively, sometimes you find yourself at a crossroads in your job and you have to ask yourself, "Should I stay, or is it time to move on?"

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Interviews

Are You Using a Team Backlog in Your Retrospectives?
In this interview, Kanchan Khera and Bhuwan Lodha detail how adding a team backlog to your retrospectives can help your team go from good to great. With agile's core belief of continuous improvement, learn how the team backlog can help you get there.
The Science of Yielding Productivity: An Interview with Mike DePaoli
Mike DePaoli sits down with us to discuss how project leaders, not unlike farmers, benefit from turning to science to give themselves the best chances at a bountiful harvest. We discuss how agile's preference for holistic approaches provides an organic opportunity for success across the enterprise.
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 providing their teams with answers—but giving them the ownership to solve problems on their own.
Innovation Courtesy of Inspiration: An Interview with Jim Elvidge
Jim Elvidge attributes the last thirty years of fun that he's had in his career to the same qualities teams should be built with today. Innovative products come from teams who are inspired to reach their full creative potential, and getting your employees there may be easier than you think.

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TechWell Stories
Why Radical Innovation is Dependent on People—Not Process
Book Review: Discover to Deliver—Agile Product Planning and Analysis
How Embracing Feedback Helps You Avoid the Vaccum
Agile Is Not for Everyone (And That's OK)
Can Your Agile Team Be Trusted?

Recommended Web Seminars

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Featured Resources

» An Innovative Approach to Integration Testing | IBM Rational
» Improve Quality and Decrease Time to Market with Requirements Management | PTC
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» Improving Test Automation for Visual Studio Projects | LogiGear

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