Conference Presentations

It Depends: Deciding on the Correct Ratio of Developers to Testers

Some people think there is a specific answer to the question, "What is the correct staffing ratio for developers to testers in a software development organization?" Usually, though, the only right answer is, "It depends." The answer you need depends on your situation: what you are doing, how quickly you are trying to do it, the culture you work in, and the results you desire and can tolerate. Explore the analysis involved to decide on your correct staffing ratios.

Johanna Rothman, Rothman Consulting Group, Inc.
Automating Test Generation to Minimize Test Writing

Learn how to minimize test writing by automating test generation! Linda Mier presents an overview and demonstration of a Microsoft Access '97 application that, in combination with a Microsoft Word template, automatically performs many of the tasks normally required when writing/tracking tests. Discover how these same principles and implementation techniques are applicable for automating test generation for other applications.

Linda Mier, Taratec Development Corp.
An Emerging Requirement Type--Legal Requirements

Testing to external standards is taking on new meaning-and a new sense of urgency-when money changes hands in cyberspace. Business rules, which are driven by legal requirements and perceptions of legal risk, dramatically expand the qualitative measures for Web-based applications. In this presentation, discover a conceptual framework for developing test plans and test cases that accommodate emerging legal requirements.

James Speer, Data Dimensions, Inc.
Beyond the Bug Battles

It is too easy to fall into fruitless battles over bugs. In many cases, the dispute really comes down to the fact that customers and developers have different ideas regarding what counts as a defect. Testers, on the other hand, are often stuck in the middle. The solution isn't to decide who's right but to find a way to acknowledge the different perspectives. In this presentation, learn two methods for increasing mutual understanding-helping testers and developers work together to create software of which they can be proud.

Bret Pettichord, Tivoli Systems
Soap Opera Testing

It is far from easy to develop good tests. Translating requirements one by one into test cases ins't always good enough. You can end up with an unmanageable volume of boring tests that lack effectiveness in finding complex and hidden problems. Based on experiences in numerous testing and test automation projects, Hans Buwalda presents several techniques to improve the process of test development. Learn how the application of these techniques-based around the theme of "Soap Opera Testing"-can not only lead to a more manageable test set, but also can provide a motivating and creative way to develop tests.

Hans Buwalda, CMG TestFrame Research Center
Outsourcing the Software Testing Effort: A Negotiating Checklist

This presentation raises several of the issues involved in partial or complete outsourcing of the software testing effort. Attorney Cem Kaner presents his negotiating checklist, including how to evaluate the costs, benefits, and risks of test outsourcing. Learn how to effectively use an outsourcer's staff with your testing projects.

Cem Kaner, J.D., Ph.D., Florida Tech
Manage Testing by the Numbers

Telcordia's Software Quality Assurance Testing Organization Business Model was developed to assist its SQA Testing Management Team in becoming more effective and productive in managing SQA testing. Learn how the implementation of this model can help raise the overall technical expertise of your test management team.

Sharon Burrell, Telcordia Technologies
Toward a Totally Automatic Test Scripts Generation

The component testing phase remains mostly a human activity. In particular, the conception of test cases, which can be a very tedious task, is usually completely manual. Although existing tools alleviate the task of the tester and increase his or her productivity, very few actually help in the generation of input test data. Discover a new generation of tools that can automatically generate test cases parameterized with various test objectives (functional, structural, and both). Learn how these tools use advanced technologies in software analysis as abstract interpretation.

Dominique Guilbaud, ATTOL Testware
Trimming the Test Suite: Using Coverage Analysis to Minimize Re-Testing

Coverage Analysis System (CAS) data is often useful in determining that enough tests have been written, and identifying C-code lines that have no test coverage. In this presentation, Jim Boone explores various methods that use CAS data to determine the best set of automated tests to execute for a corrected defect. Learn the strengths, weaknesses, and best stage for using each method.

Jim Boone, SAS, Institute, inc.
STAREAST 2000: The Result of Testing Is Not Quality

From this presentation's summary:

  • Re-Design Testing to Provide Information to Manage Risks
  • Use Risk Analysis to Determine What & When to Test (Knowledge)
  • Design Test Activities to Provide Feedback about Risks (Information)
  • Use a Hierarchical Test Approach with Feedback
    Loops (Information+Knowledge)
  • Remember The Business Goal (Wisdom)
Shel Seigel, Seigel Associates Corporation

Pages

AgileConnection is a TechWell community.

Through conferences, training, consulting, and online resources, TechWell helps you develop and deliver great software every day.