Reloadable test data takes more time up front (as compared to on-the-fly data creation), but saves blood, sweat, and tears in the long term. It also virtually eliminates "works on my machine" bugs, creates a more intricate and realistic environment, and is the first step on the road to test automation.

Improving your software development process is only valuable if it fills the highest priority needs for your business clients with speed and quality. Lean principles provide guidance on how to create a structure that lets business priorities drive the selection of the right products for creation and enhancement.

The choice of a test automation strategy is a key determining factor in whether your test automation initiative will repay your investment, or become a sink hole devouring time and money. Gerard Meszaros helps you understand what kinds of tests you should be running, which ones should be automated, who should prepare the tests, what tools they should be using, and when the tests should be prepared and run. A well-executed test automation strategy is key to preventing defects rather than finding defects after they have occurred. Gerard gives you the information you need to make an intelligent decision about how to approach test automation to minimize cost and maximize quality.

Although the Agile Manifesto has worked well to help many organizations change the way they build software, the agile movement is now suffering from some backsliding, lots of overselling, and a resulting backlash. Brian Marick believes that is partly because the Agile Manifesto is almost entirely focused outwardly—it talks to the business about how the development team will work with it. What it does not talk about is how the team must work within itself and with the code. Even though those omissions were appropriate then, now more is needed. Teams starting agile need to know that more discipline is required of them, and that discipline is fruitless without a strong emphasis on skills. Teams need to recognize that success is not just fulfilling requirements. It is also increasing productivity and decreasing the consequences of mistakes.