Articles

Five Ways to Make Test Automation Fail

Test automation promises much, but it can deliver disastrous results if implemented poorly. Laura Salazar takes a look at five common practices that can cause automation projects to fail.

Problem Solving: Deadlines and Context

One of the more difficult challenges people and teams have in the face of deadline pressure is taking time to consider how to approach a problem rather than just diving in with a solution approach that you know will work.

Think of the People First

Johanna Rothman tackles the Paterno/Sandusky scandal and notes that the truth has a way of always coming out. Will you still have your integrity when the truth emerges?

From One Expert to Another: Markus Gärtner

Markus Gärtner is a tester and the author of ATDD by Example. In this interview with Zeger van Hese, Markus talks about his new book, the software craftsmanship movement, and “Beyond Testing,” a workshop he’ll be delivering later this year.

Hours, Velocity, Silo’d Teams, and Gantts

Johanna Rothman shares some tips for project and program managers turned ScrumMasters who are adopting agile. If your management won’t allow you to take training, start reading.

Why, Oh Why, Do Projects Fail?

While everything should be done to avoid project failure, it does occur. When it does, management and the team must look into why a project failed, to avoid repeating mistakes in the future. Failure must be more than simply accepted or allowed. It also needs to be closely analyzed.

Leading Your Team Through Difficult Times

When a project isn't going well, it's important to stay on track and keep the current and future project tasks in perspective. How do you keep your team focused on the project at hand and your client confident and calm?

Harden Your Web Applications with Practical Security Testing

Even though software security is vital, security testing principles and practices take time for functional testers to master. The good news is that getting started doesn't have to cost a fortune as there are effective freeware tools out there. Scott Aziz offers practical techniques that will help you get started.

From One Expert to Another: Alan Page

Alan Page has done his share of hands-on testing and team management in his years at Microsoft (he's also the co-author of How We Test Software at Microsoft). And, in that time, he has learned that what you know isn't nearly as important as what you can figure out. In this interview with TechWell editor Joey McAllister, Alan discusses the importance of honing your critical-thinking skills and offers some tips for doing so.

Function Point Analysis and Agile Methodology

Dan Horvath explains how function point analysis (FPA), in combination with other metrics, provides reliable and accurate measures that may be invaluable to an agile development organization.