Although the new year has long since passed, I will make a resolution to write at least two blog posts this month. I have a good deal of exciting experiences to share. Be back soon!

TERMS

Test Automation Mnemonic by Albert Gareev
T – Tools & Technology
E – Execution
R – Requirements & Risks
M – Maintenance
S – Security

Read more on the TERMS mnemonic in the 2012 Issue 1 edition of the ST&QA magazine.

CRUMBS

Test Automation Mnemonic by Albert Gareev
C Confirmation, Coverage Criteria & Complexity
R Risk, Robustness, & Reliability
U Usefulness & Usability
M Maintainability & Manual Effort
B Basis & Bias
S Span, Separation, & Security

Read more on the CRUMBS mnemonic in the 2012 Issue 2 edition of the ST&QA magazine.

Both of these magazine references require a membership with Software Test Professionals, STP. I have asked Michael and Albert for additional links to free sites so you can get more details.

This year I will be delivering a workshop on “Thinking About Testing as a Service”. You can read more about my session on the CAST 2012 Sessions page. There are many exciting sessions and workshops being offered this year. Be sure to check them out!

From the AST website, here is a summary of this year’s exciting conference:

The theme of this year’s conference is “The Thinking Tester”: an exploration and celebration of on-the-job creativity and critical thinking in software testing.

Thinking testers question not only the product and its technical context, but the circumstances they find themselves in. What is the whole project context? What are the rules, the conventions, the unspoken assumptions? What are the constraints and risks?

Thinking testers challenge themselves and their team-mates to test effectively and efficiently with integrity and skill. Thinking testers neither blindly follow methodologies or standards, nor automatically reject them. They evaluate the merits of different approaches and adopt those best suited to a given problem set, according to their professional judgement. Thinking testers invent new solutions to old and new problems. They challenge apparent project or organizational constraints and devise clever workarounds for those they can’t change. They educate customers and teammates about the benefits of an open-minded approach to testing. Where necessary, thinking testers speak truth to power.

The CAST conference is always my most favourite conference to attend each year. CAST is also the first conference I recommend to software testers who are passionate about learning and are looking to engage in thought provoking discussions. The format of the CAST conference is unique and focuses on the “confer” in conference. Read more about the CAST format here.

See you at CAST 2012!

Course Overview
You are an experienced information technology professional. Regardless of your position, role or title, you may find yourself managing projects. You know the mechanics of project management—initiating, planning, scheduling, staffing, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing projects. Now you want to strengthen your leadership skills—skills that enable you to work effectively with customers, bosses, peers, staff, and vendors as well as help them work effectively with one another.

This workshop will help you balance your needs and expectations as a leader, the needs and expectations of other project individuals, and the realities of your project’s context. This workshop addresses directly human relationship situations that can put your project at risk—when stresses emerge, tempers flare, and uncertainties and self-doubts arise.

Adapted from the book Powerful Project Leadership by Wayne Strider, this workshop can benefit anyone whose work involves managing relationships among project team members, sponsors, committees, functional users, customers and vendors.

For more details on the Powerful Project Leadership Skills course, please see the PPLS Course Details page.

Registration
Early bird registration of $1625.00 per person will be offered to Satir Global Network members and $1699 to non members until January 31, 2012. Starting February 1st registrations will be $1925.00 per person to Satir members and $1999.00 to non members. Fees include training materials, lunch, and refreshments. Participants will also receive a copy of the Powerful Project Leadership book. Please note there is a maximum of 28 spots available.

Register Now »

Interested in knowning more about the Satir Global Network? Visit http://satirglobal.org/about/ for more information and to join.

Do not miss this great opportunity! We look forward to seeing you at the course. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Lynn or Nancy.