process improvement

Shift Left and Put Quality First

When switching to an agile workflow, it's assumed that you'll be able to deliver products faster and more efficiently right away. But adopting agile is just one part of the equation. You also have to focus on the technical enablers you need. Adam Auerbach explains some factors that worked for him.

Adam Auerbach's picture
Adam Auerbach
Understanding Effective Organizational Politics

Many people say, “I refuse to participate in politics,” perhaps imagining they are above the fray. You can still choose to be honest, ethical, and reasonable in your approach to politics. But if you choose not to participate, then you and your slice of the organization will lose to those who do.

Payson Hall's picture
Payson Hall
Automation: Testing or Checking?

Interactive exploratory testing and organized automated testing seem to be on opposing ends of a spectrum, but much of that depends on how you apply them. Automated tests don't have to be shallow and boring. You can still explore, learn, and create good tests. Read on for more from Hans Buwalda.

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Hans Buwalda
Beware of Serial Status Meetings

Standup meetings are great in many instances. But if you're calling serial status meetings, you may find that people will stop attending. To engage employees and address issues quicker, you may want to try lean coffee or a problem-solving meeting. Read on for tips on involving your team.

Johanna Rothman's picture
Johanna Rothman
How to Work with Defensive People

It’s irritating to work with people who are always defensive. These are the people who, when things don’t work out as planned, are quick to blame circumstances, bad luck, or the people they work with. But if you can gain the trust of defensive people, you and the work you do together will benefit.

Naomi Karten's picture
Naomi Karten
User-Acceptance Testing in a Testing Center of Excellence

To incorporate the user-acceptance testing function into a testing center of excellence (TCoE), the testing team must develop business-process knowledge coupled with technology and test process expertise. Here are some lessons that will aid in integrating the UAT function as part of the TCoE.

Deepika Mamnani's picture
Deepika Mamnani
What's in the September/October 2014 Better Software Magazine?

In our latest issue of Better Software magazine, the feature articles focus on software licensing and ways to improve your team’s approach to process improvement. Creating software for a wide range of platforms is difficult enough, but enforcing software licensing also can be challenging.

Ken Whitaker's picture
Ken Whitaker
Take a More Agile Approach to Problem Solving

Your managers want you to estimate features or projects months or even years in advance. But the work changes—or the code changes, or the people on the project change. What you thought might be a reasonable estimate four weeks ago looks wacko when you revisit it in six months. What can you do?

Johanna Rothman's picture
Johanna Rothman