Process

Articles

Programming with an Agile Mindset
Agile is recognized as a system-software development approach used to get quick feedback to keep the customer involved at every stage, building a disciplined team, and having working software at any given point in time. Sameer Arora writes on how things can fall out of place when agility on the programming side is ignored.
Agile ALM for Delivering Customer Value: Getting Started
In this first part of a two-part series, Mario Moreira writes that a reasonable application lifecycle management (ALM) product will have a common user interface for utilizing the ALM functionality. It will also include a meta-model and process engine to parse and share information across and amongst the various functions within the ALM framework. These technical needs must be accompanied by a strong business case for delivering higher customer value and new approaches for seamless integration.
Seven Strategies for Handling Distributed Agile

Global markets, global talent, and a constant pressure to reduce costs through outsourcing are all major forces that contribute to distributed teams, but distribution can inhibit communication within the team. Here are seven strategies for staying agile in the face of distributed-team challenges.

Information Technology Predictions for 2013
While 2013 may appear calmer compared to 2012 due in part to fewer “big” events scheduled this year, the information technology (IT) industry and profession advances forward. The IT industry, interestingly enough, shapes events in addition to being shaped by events around the world.

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Better Software Magazine

Why Agile Works: Focus on the Details of Software Development
It's easy to overlook details when your focus is on the big picture. But, if you adjust your perspective, you may find new value in understanding why things work the way they do. Learn why agile works and how it can apply to both complex and simple projects.
Simplicity and Precision: Test Planning in Agile Projects
Test planning is often thought unnecessary in an agile project. However, if our mindset is on "planning" rather than "plans," we see that test-planning activities happen throughout the project, taking advantage of levels of precision, i.e., what is absolutely necessary at each level.
I’ve Got a Feeling: Emotions in Testing
There are people who believe that emotions have no place in software testing when, in fact, the opposite is true. Decisions about quality are always emotional. If you want to be a better tester, get in touch with your feelings.
The Software Development Game
Adapting your software development tools, practices, and processes can be difficult, even overwhelming. The authors have studied and applied game-like processes and behaviors to help provide structure to software development adaptation. They propose a process strategy called the software development game to help teams who are faced with change.

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Interviews

Collaborating with ALM and Agile: An Interview with Karthik Ravindran
Video
Karthik Ravindran, Microsoft Senior Director - Visual Studio Product Management, discusses the evolution of ALM and agile and how each can reach its full potential when they are working together in an organization. This interview gives teams the information they need to help them take testing and development to the next level.
Traceability's Priceless Role in Agile: An Interview with William Gens
William Gens sits down with Noel Wurst to describe "the art and science of traceability" ahead of his STAREAST session of the same name. Learn what makes traceability meaningful and such a valuable asset to projects, no matter how bad the requirements may seem to be.
Expanding Agile with Kanban, Lean, and Quality Code: An Interview with Alan Shalloway
Podcast
Alan Shalloway has a wealth of knowledge on all things agile, and in this interview, he helps us better understand a handful of practices that help agile succeed on projects big and small. Alan goes into the importance of design patterns and quality code, and then attempts to "demystify kanban."
Testing the Requirements of Collaboration: An Interview with Jeff "Cheezy" Morgan
Jeff "Cheezy" Morgan informed us in this interview that collaboration is king, and we should end the separation of development and testing, while putting everything under a single development umbrella. Jeff also looks beyond the benefits of collaboration and TDD and takes some stabs at the future.

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TechWell Stories
To Estimate or Not to Estimate—That Is the Question
Removing Waste in Software Projects
Create a Vendor Contract While Keeping Agile
How Agile Teams Use DevOps for Deployment
Build a List of Things—But Don't Call It Agile

Recommended Web Seminars

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Featured Resources

» Skytap Automation Pack for Microsoft VS Team Foundation Server | Skytap
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» Performance Testing in the Cloud | J9 Technologies

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