The Latest

Managing the Communication Storm Front[magazine]

The communication storm front is a real phenomenon that crops up in all development teams and in all organizations. You need not be the victim of such storms. You, as development manager, have the tools to reduce the power of the storm front and create a team that is ever more effective and efficient.

Elizabeth K. Schmitz
Finding the Signal through the Noise[magazine]

A major challenge for software professionals interpreting data is deciding what's real and what isn't, what matters and what doesn't. A useful way to think about it is that you are trying to find the signal in the noise produced by random variation and error. Here is advice on how to extract the useful information from the "noise."

Jarrett Rosenberg
Weinberg on the Essential Team[magazine]

The team is the basic design unit for software engineering processes. Within the team, reviewers can learn without having to admit to ignorance, and their learning is always relevant to the team's tasks. When there are multiple eyes, there are many more chances to see a fault. Learn how to create and get the most from your team.

Gerald M. Weinberg
Testers and Developers Think Differently[magazine]

Appreciating differences is critical for productive teams. Different approaches aid in finding solutions, and mutual respect dramatically improves group problem solving. Testers should not be judged according to developer criteria.

Bret Pettichord's picture Bret Pettichord
Getting Published[magazine]

Why would you want to get published? Why take time out from doing real work to share your thoughts with others? After all, didn't we gladly leave writing behind when we got out of school? But when you share your experiences, you play a part in a larger picture, leaving your mark on the world, and advancing your field.

Danny R. Faught's picture Danny R. Faught
Behind Closed Doors: What Every Tester Should Know About Web Privacy[magazine]

The explosion of personal information on the Web has made privacy a primary concern. Here are pointers on making sure your site works for security-conscious users, as well as information to help you avoid inadvertent compromises of privacy.

Russ Smith
Look Before You Test[magazine]

Test coverage is about insuring that test plans and test cases include information vital for successful testing of the program in the areas of functionality, performance, and the overall quality of the software. This article shows how to create a plan of attack to provide strong test coverage, determine the scenarios for the test plan, and manage the changes made to information used by testing.

Kenneth Lengel
Automating Requirements Traceability[magazine]

Developing software to meet users' specific needs can be a difficult task. Verification and validation activities can help ensure that you are building the right software right.

Bill Councill
User-Driven Design[magazine]

It doesn't matter when you deliver, if you build the wrong product. Development entails inferences and assumptions about the user, which are supposed to guide the build-process. However, even if development successfully matches the inferences and assumptions about the user, if those criteria don't match the Real User, the product fails. This article talks about how to incorporate the user into the requirements and design phase.

Immunizing Against Predictable Project Failure[magazine]

To be truly successful, a project needs more than a list of requirements and good intentions. Here's a way to use project charters to define the big-picture relationship and expectations between Developers and Management.

I II
Using Monkey Test Tools[magazine]

Monkey testing refers to automated testing done randomly without any "typical user" bias. Here's a look at how to use such random testing techniques to cost-effectively catch bugs you might otherwise miss.

Noel Nyman
Effective Test Status Reporting[magazine]

The way you report test status can impact both real and perceived effectiveness. Here's how to master the upward and outward management of communicating test progress and results.

Rex Black's picture Rex Black
Quality Meets the CEO[magazine]

Management and testers may not often speak the same language. This article takes an unvarnished look at the communication gap between quality advocates and management and offers ways to open a dialogue and gain credibility.

Jeffery Payne's picture Jeffery Payne
Managing in Mayberry: An Examination of Three Distinct Leadership Styles[magazine]

The assumptions you make about the people you manage can shape your management style. Here's a detailed look at three distinct styles of management and how they apply to your software projects.

Dan Starr
Intelligent Test Automation[magazine]

"Warning: The fairy tale you are about to read is a fib--but it’s short, and the moral is true. Once upon a product cycle, there were four testers who set out on a quest to test software." Read this article for the whole Intelligent Test Automation story.

Harry Robinson's picture Harry Robinson

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