Conference Presentations

Selecting and Implementing a Test Management Tool

Tool selection is always tricky with its endless choices from vendors, boundless feature lists, and myriad of requirements from demanding team members. You've probably read a lot about selecting a test automation tool, but what about a test management tool? Emerging tools are more feature-rich than ever, and in many organizations they've become a permanent fixture in the QA environment. This session gives you a road map for the selection and implementation of a test management tool. Rutesh Shah presents a case study of a tool's implementation in the QA organization of a large banking firm. Learn how to use a test management tool to derive process efficiency, resource utilization, and testing status metrics.

Rutesh Shah, Arsin Corporation and Byron Ackerman, Wells Fargo Internet Services
Pressure-Cooker Testing: What to Do When the Squeeze is On

All things are possible in the face of adversity, even an under-resourced testing project with an immovable deadline. Many testing projects start out with high ideals, then descend into mad panic when the realities begin to set in. Usually by this stage it's too late to back out of commitments, yet delivering a product that doean't meet customer and business expectations is not an option. Geoff Horne offers some useful insights for taking a resource- and time-challenged project and turning it into a successful endeavor that still delivers a quality solution.

Geoff Horne, iSQA
Successful Test Management: 9 Lessons Learned

Many engineering managers came to management through the technical ranks. Although they may have had plenty of engineering training and mentoring, they frequently have to learn management skills the hard way: through trial and error. In this double-track presentation, Johanna Rothman describes some engineering management tips and tricks learned through trial and error. Gain insight into how people respond to different management styles and missions. Learn what to observe in your staff's work--and your own.

Johanna Rothman, Rothman Consulting Group, Inc.
Overcoming Communication Hurdles for Large Testing

Learn of the challenges one company faced in testing a new distribution center involving six new systems with multiple integration points. Consisting of over one hundred systems and business personnel, the various test teams were located in eight different physical locations throughout the United States. Discover the communication issues and problems encountered by the test teams during this project, and examine the tools and techniques involved to keep everyone informed.

Marcia Miller, Levi Strauss & Co.
Management of Test Case Aging

Testing continues over a software product's lifecycle, but the test plans--particularly test cases and methods--undergo an evolution and aging as they mature in character, depth, and complexity. Based on analysis of a suite of tests and methods that have matured over a ten to twenty year period, this presentation examines testing from its initial stages through its maturity. Explore the impact of software trouble reports and change requests, including impacts from system usage on the testing.

Jon Hagar, Lockheed Martin
Creating a Test Plan Database for Standardized Tests Across Multiple Nodes

Most test databases on the market today offer the ability to enter tests in a linear style without the ability to easily repeat the same tests for many different nodes. This original primitive testing approach offers test security to the project, but takes up unnecessary time that could be better spent on testing the application. Colleen Sherman contends there is a better way: the database way! Learn how this approach creates an efficient and accurate solution to what was once an administrative nightmare.

Colleen Sherman
STAREAST 2000: The Business Case for Software Quality

Each generation of technology-mainframe to client/server to Internet-creates opportunity. It also creates increased risks. Improving the development and testing infrastructure can be a significant investment. Tools need to be required; staff needs to be trained; and outside guidance in the tools and processes may be necessary. This presentation will address ten major areas of opportunity which underscore why this investment is critical to the success of an organization. Learn about the increasing failure rate in projects, the limited availability of competent software professionals, the liability exposure, rising support costs, and the implications of e-commerce. Obtain the information you need to present an effective business case to senior management for the investments required for software quality.

Richard Bender, Technology Builders, Inc.
STAREAST 2000: A Risk-Based Test Strategy

Testing information systems should be based on the business risks to the organization using these information systems. In practice, test managers often take an intuitive approach to test coverage for risks. In this double-track presentation, discover how a "stepwise" definition of test strategy can be used for any test level as well as the overall strategy-providing better insight and a sound basis for negotiating testing depth.

Ingrid Ottevanger, IQUIP Informatica
The Indispensable Test Team: Gaining and Maintaining Value in 2000 and Beyond

Although testers and Quality Assurance (QA) managers have historically found themselves to be the last hired and the first fired, the Y2K problem has brought testing and testers to the forefront of application development. Now that you have the team in place, how can you enhance your processes and demonstrate the value of your team to the rest of the world? Learn fun and practical methods to help testers create an awareness of QA's value within your organization.

Terrye Ashby, Pointe Technology Group, Inc.
Testing Strategy Changes for eBusiness Applications

The U.S. market for eBusiness software and services is expected to grow from $25 billion in 1998 to $104 billion in 2003. Delivering quality Web applications that meet your business needs the day they are implemented has become a critical challenge for IT managers. As business critical applications become more complex, so has the testing process. Learn how the complexity of the architecture and rapid application development has caused testing to require a redefined strategy, revised approach, tools, and trained/experienced resources.

Jeff Tatelman, Interim Technology Consulting

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